Chapter 476 - Security conference (4)

Second day of conference, Sarah and Aiden attended morning event. It was an in-person presentation style talk by a woman in light green cloak about latest practices in cryptography. Woman was speaking in Russian, and Sarah saw that many participants used headsets. Of course, she didn't need one.

After the presentation, there was another social event which gave participants opportunity to network.

This time it was more lively than last night. It seems that some people already connected, probably during previous social event, and they immediately started chatting as they picked up some refreshments.

Sarah and Aiden stood on the side, observing people. Sarah was curious about people's interactions in these events, and Aiden was there to accompany her. If it's up to him, they would just go back to the room and relax before lunch, but he saw that Sarah is interested in this for some reason, and he can't let her stay behind alone.

Lady in light green cloak entered, her face was covered with a mask, and she walked with a posture of a royal. It is the lady who presented about cryptography during morning session.

A group of masked people wearing cloaks was following her. Most of them were trying to strike a conversation with the lady. It's safe to assume that the lady in green is famous in her field and that people following her are trying to get her into their network, or maybe they still have questions which were not answered after her presentation ended.

As the lady in light green cloak made slow circle around the room observing people in attendance, Sarah noticed that lady didn't speak much. She mostly nodded. Sarah observed that people around that lady tried talking to her in English. 'Maybe she not talking because she does not understand them…' But Sarah didn't want to meddle. She was here to observe.

The group with a lady in front passed by Sarah and Aiden and now they walked by two people in dark red capes who were chatting.

"How come you didn't join last night?", man with number 62 asked.

"I slept off… did I miss anything interesting?", man with number 56 responded lazily and threw a question back.

"Nah, usual stuff… Actually, something did get revealed…" Man with number 62 mysteriously smiled for few seconds before continuing. "Did you know that 30 and 31 are married?"

"You are kidding me… right? What are chances of two people married to each other to attend this? And they have adjacent numbers? That is some crazy stuff…"

…

Few minutes before that conversation happened, man in a dark blue cloak with number 71 was following after lady in light green cloak. He knows her, she works for him. She is Svetlana Novakov, famous cryptographer. He came to the event to take a look… This is a gathering of world-famous hackers, and many powerful people want to get a chance to add them to their network. That is how he recruited Svetlana several years ago. He was glancing around while walking in the crowd that followed Svetlana. What is he looking for? He is looking for some sign that one of these capable people is looking for work… he has lots of work that he can assign. And he can pay well. He needs to focus on body language and see if any of these masked people might be interested. Someone looking around, but not casually like trying to network… it needs to be a more intense gaze, with a purpose. He can't describe it exactly, but he will know once he sees it.

He observed two people in dark red robes. 'VIPs', he confirmed to himself. 'They are very close.' The man analyzed Sarah and Aiden, starting from the fact that it's very unusual for people who already know each other intimately to attend this event together. It is difficult to get an invitation, and then they need to finish challenging trial in order to qualify for a spot… But their presence is familiar. His mind shifted through people who could match such appearances. 'Is it possible that this is little Sarah and her companion from White family?'

He silently followed in the group of people as they passed by Sarah and Aiden, throwing inconspicuous glances toward those two people wearing 30 and 31. 'Yes, it is them!' As soon as he confirmed his suspicion, he lowered his head and did his best that his body language does not show any abnormalities while his mind exploded, 'WOW! 30… not bad… not bad at all, little Sarah… I definitely need to keep a closer eye on you! And he is 31? This makes things… interesting…'

He was in his thoughts when he overheard two people talking, "Did you know that 30 and 31 are married?"

Man's mind went blank. Everything stopped, including his steps. 'Married?!! Impossible! When did that happen??!' He didn't realize when he lifted his head and his gaze locked on Sarah and Aiden, well mostly on Sarah. Emotions in him stormed and he struggled to keep them in control.

…

Sarah was hit with the same eerie feeling she had back in the deserted street after big gambling event and instinctively looked at the crowd following lady in green cloak. Her eyes met with eyes of a man in a dark blue cloak with number 71. He was looking right at her!

'Such threatening stare!', Sarah thought. But she didn't waver. She made sure to glare back at him with equal intensity and not to allow herself to be intimidated.

Aiden noticed that something is off, Sarah's body tensed. His arm circled around her shoulders protectively while he tried to locate source of Sarah's sudden alertness.

Person walking behind man with 71 didn't notice that he stopped and ended up bumping into him. This caused mask from man with number 71 to shift slightly.

It was only a moment before he adjusted his mask, but Sarah got a glimpse of his face.

Man with 71 extended his steps and approached the lady in green. He tugged her sleeve and she stopped moving to hear something he said only for her to hear, before he swiftly left the room.

Sarah looked after the man and wanted to go after him, but then she remembered that she can't follow him, not with all security in place. She would need to be escorted by a staff member. How can she follow anyone under such conditions?

Sarah felt Aiden's grip on her shoulder tighten. She patted his arm lightly to let him know that it's OK.

But she was not OK. That man left, taking with him answers to numerous questions that overwhelmed her.

'What's up with this uncomfortable feeling of danger? Why do I feel I know that man? Why does he look familiar? Who is he?' Sarah cursed her weak memory of faces and names, second time in few days. Even the feeling of hating her memory was familiar. 'When did I feel like this last? Ah! Only few days ago when…' And then it hit her: mystery man who exited from the VVIP room that evening, when she played at the same table with Patel. Their eyes locked while he walked away followed by bodyguards… What are chances that he is attending the same conference? 'He had 71 on his cloak. I need to find out who he is!'

It took some time for Sarah to calm down her emotions. She tugged Aiden's sleeve. "Let's go back to our room."