With Adrian and his security team following Thomas’ wild hunt for the Red Midget (more like the Red Herring, Ivy and Billy thought), the techs were back to their usual locations and duties. Since Ivy was able to get the hacker locked out of most of the essential systems, the show had settled down.

In fact, while JJ DeVille was making history, Ivy and Billy Parsons finished up the security lockout and ran an additional systems check – the hacker was still in the system and had been sending Ivy messages as she worked, but he didn’t have any more active access.

GOOD WORK

WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO DISRUPT THE SHOW?

IT HAS TO BE DONE

WHY?

BECAUSE

She exhaled. This was as productive as trying to explain business to Thomas. A few more keystrokes, and she was ready to lock the system completely.

YOU KNOW HE HAS TO PAY

This was new. Ish.

YOU KEEP SAYING THAT, WHO HAS TO PAY?

YOU KNOW

NO I DON’T

THEN YOU HAVE TO PAY TOO.

Now, Ivy had to think. She had made precious few enemies in the wrestling business – most of the people who hated her only hated her for her reputation – and none of them had any problem telling her to her face.

JUST HIT THE BUTTON MCGINNIS AND LOCK ME OUT. ITS YOUR DUTY BUT IT’LL BE YOUR UNDOING

Her finger hesitated above the ‘enter’ key.

JUST LIKE JUDAS

*CLICK*

Almost immediately, her phone began to ring. The sound of “Riders on the Storm” meant it was Adrian.

“Speak on it,” said Ivy.

“Hey, it’s me,” replied Adrian through the speaker, “We got ‘em.”

“What?”

There was a moment of struggle on the other end, and another, equally familiar voice filled the room.

“The most dangerous man in wrestling is now in our custody,” said Commissioner Thomas, with an air of accomplishment behind his words, “and the CSWA is now safe.”

Ivy rolled her eyes.

“We’ve recaptured the Red Midget.”