Alex nodded, tucking the USB drive into his pocket. "I'll take a look. But I have to warn you, I'm going to have to scan this for viruses before I do anything with it."
The next day, Alex decided to pay a visit to Eli, delivering the patched file via a new USB drive, properly encrypted and secured. Eli was pleased, and after ensuring Alex wouldn't pry further, handed him a modest sum for his troubles.
One evening, as he locked up Tech Haven and began his walk home, Alex noticed a figure watching him from across the street. As their eyes met, the figure quickly turned and disappeared into the night. Alex's heart skipped a beat. He wondered if it was Eli, or perhaps someone else entirely, a guardian of sorts, ensuring that certain...arrangements remained discreet.