The Goddess of Don Pablo
Chapter 21: The Hacker's First Chat

The time was almost 11pm when Maria, who was walking through the glass room where Ray's desk was, saw the bench empty. Maria is the observer type. Whatever is in front of his eyes will not escape his sight. He hasn't seen the man in the office since morning.

In the past few days, he had observed that the man often went out of the office. Maria knows Ray is placed in a special division that deals with criminal crimes for international networks. He is a forensic expert who currently handles international drug trafficking cases. Since the enactment of certain types of medical drugs into the category of drugs that are restricted and specifically licensed, Ray's work automatically increased. Plus it's not easy to investigate the mafia of international drug networks. He could not just search and arrest someone he suspected. He must have a lot of strong evidence and good cooperation with the Interpol outside his jurisdiction. That's what makes Maria sure this man has to get off the field to get the information he needs.

Maria returned to her desk with a cup of African Robusta Black Coffee. The aroma of coffee beans that sting out because of the hot water that dissolves it can eliminate the drowsiness that strikes before lunch.

He looked back at his computer screen. When suddenly an email entered the inbox of his personal email account.

Hi, Mary...

I'm sorry to disturb you. I've got your contact from your Facebook. Hope you don't mind if I know you more. I've attached my FB account and add you as a friend, hope you will approve me and write me soon.

Sincerely Yours,

Thomas

Mary was stunned to read the email. As he remembered he had no friend named Thomas on his campus first. But curiosity made him open the FB account listed in the email. He can see a profile photo in the form of an animated picture of a man with a black hooded jacket and a matching colored face mask being bowed to the invisible face. He can't see any profile of this guy. All locked to the public unless he approves it as a friend first. Out of curiosity, Maria opened her own FB account. He saw that the same account had been waiting for his approval to become a friend on his FB. He approved the man's account.

He opened the profile of the man afterwards. He did not find anything strange on the account. Except, when he saw the number of friends this man was not more than 10 people in it. Apparently for Maria, Thomas is not a man who is good at hanging out.He opened the photo album of the man. There are several photos of thin and tall men wearing glasses. But his face did not seem too clearly plastered. Each position is always taken from the side angle. Until his face is not clearly visible. Maria's eyes seemed observant looking around for something she might be able to find from that account. But he found nothing. In a photo, the man appears to be standing in the park of one of the famous campuses in a city called Bridgeland. The University of Bridgeland. He opened the profile of this man, apparently not a fake account for Maria. Just looks like this guy belongs to the introvert category. He read the profile listed in the account. His eyes seemed unblinking looking at the majors listed in his profile. He graduated from the University of Bridgeland with a major in Computer Programming. She is 2 years older than Maria. This woman was getting curious.. Is it possible that this man was an acquaintance of one of his former college friends ? . Not yet had he thought for a long time, a chat in FB greeted him.

Thomas : Thanks for your approval. Greetings...

Mary: U're welcome. How do you know me by the way ?

Thomas : Oops.not intentionally your account is included in the list of recommendations of acquaintances.. I see you're from the IT department. Nothing wrong with not expanding your friendship network ?

Mary: Oh.of course not. I've seen your profile. Looks like you're not getting along enough...

Maria: Yeah .i konw it well. Where do you work ?

Thomas : hmm.i'm freelance programmer. You work in the police yourself ? I have also seen your profile...Brilliant ..

Mary : Well..

Thomas: Oh yes, sometimes I meet clients in the area of Bellarose Mall. If you don't mind, maybe one day we can meet ? just for coffee ?

Mary : Hmm..Woow.apparently you're not as closed as I imagined...

Thomas : Oops..sorry.but you know not the rules of social media play.anyone can know you.even people who don't know you at all ...but I see you're not a dangerous criminal to me. You look like a pretty woman with a pretty brilliant career I guess...

Maria: hahaha ..you praise me too much as if you had known me, man...

Thomas : Well...I can get to know someone just by looking at the photos and background of your profession.Can't you dare to confess-confess instead of being a police officer in the central district ? I guess you're not a female criminal...

Maria: Well .until there.your analysis is pretty good.well...Thomas I guess I have to cut our conversation now...I don't want to be penalized by my boss for playing too much FB during business hours...😉

Thomas : Oops.siap officer.I also do not want to be considered a crocodile man who likes to tease police beautiful women like you, Mary...😉

Maria who read the man's last message seemed to be smiling. He immediately ended his chat with the man he had just known in cyberspace. He immediately signed out of his account. Thomas who was in his modest flat seemed to be smiling happily. The plan of approaching Maria so far seems to be going well. He sipped a can of his diet coke. His heart seemed satisfied.

***