Cipher Read Online Free Page A

sometimes very bad. They take money. They
steal.”
    “Really?” Jonathan hadn’t realized that corruption was that
apparent in a city like Istanbul, but it didn’t shock him. It didn’t shock him that there were people in power gaming the system. It was
probably just more apparent in a city like Istanbul, but he knew that kind of
corruption existed everywhere. Some countries were just better at hiding it
than others. If you took a country like the United States, you might not see
the corruption that visibly, but it still existed. Jonathan knew all too well
just how much it existed. He had been tasked with helping to uncover some of
that corruption in his early days as a detective working in the city. But, that
was in the past. He didn’t want to go backwards.
    “Evet. Really.”
    He had recalled the word evet ,
which meant yes in Turkish. He looked at the working-class man through the
rearview mirror again, then at the ancient city as they drove over a
spectacular bridge across the Bosporus, separating the Asian side of Turkey
from the European side. The shimmering city’s mosques glittered in the distance
as they made their way over the large suspension bridge. Jonathan couldn’t
recall seeing anything so beautiful in such a long time.
    The city sparkled along the water and he was hit with a rush
of excitement and exhilaration. He knew he had work to do, but just breathing
in the air of the ancient city made him feel more alive. He was no longer
confined to the bowels of New York City; he was really living life. This was
it. This was what it was all about. He wrapped both arms around his backpack as
if it were a little child on his lap. That backpack contained virtually his
entire life at that moment.
    On the last stretch of road before they reached the hotel,
Jonathan marveled at the sparkling sea. He looked at the dichotomy in women,
some wearing burkas, some without, and realized how far away from home he really
was. But he didn’t mind. He didn’t mind being far away form home because of the
rich historical beauty that he found himself immersed in. The city made him
feel alive again. It made him feel like a person. He had a purpose and a
meaning to his life. He didn’t have to drift away in some dingy apartment in
Brooklyn; he could live again doing what he knew how to do best. As long as he
didn’t mess up the opportunity, there would surely be more to come for him.
    When he finally reached the hotel and checked in, he thanked
the taxi driver. He took one last moment to look at him as he shook his hand
before walking into the hotel with his bag. The cobblestone and historical
exterior was a stark contrast to the sleek and modern interior of the Le Hotel
in Istanbul. The blacks and reds evaded the space with brilliant pops of color that
brought the space to life. The modern furniture with its clean lines, gave way
to rich and brilliantly colored finishes throughout the space. He marveled at
the beauty of the space for a moment and felt pleased with himself for having
found that gem.
    He took a moment to gather himself as he walked into the
stylish room that had all the comforts of home. He stepped out onto the small
terrace and sat there for a few moments collecting his thoughts. The seven-hour
time difference ahead from New York was going to catch up with him at some
point, but he still had energy from the sleep he caught on the flight. He
walked back into the room and decided to setup his laptop and get to work. He
had to find Dr. Cobalt and get the black USB cipher drive. He stared at the PDF
map on his screen for a few moments. He studied the coordinates and other
detailed information on the map, and then minimized it on his screen. He opened
up another browser, and this time decided to do a Google search for information
on Dr. Cobalt to see what he could come up with.
    Jonathan used to be a pro at surfing the Web. Before he
allowed the drinking to get in the way, he was one of the most