Chapter 2
Plan
Kinagabihan, matapos kong kabisaduhin ang ilang articles sa 1987 Philippine Constitution ay pinag-aralan ko ang mga areas ng Galileo's Pyramid.
Bukas ay kailangan kong puntahan iyon para mas makilatis ko itong mabuti. I have to know how the event will be organized. Kung saan ilo-locate ang kwintas at kung sino-sino ang mga taong involved dito.
It's not easy to steal, 'mind you. You have to create a flawless plan para magawa ito nang mabuti. Though there'd be some glitch, you have to keep in mind that you'll not fail. Positivity will bring you up.
Knowing this will be a huge event, paniguradong mahigpit ang security rito. Pero kung sabagay, nagawa ko ngang nakawin ang Imperial State Crown, ito pa kayang kwintas na ito. It'd be a piece of cake. Unless, that guy and his minions are after it, too...
"You crossed the line you shouldn't cross, little girl..."
Napahawak ako sa kanang braso ko kung saan naroon ang isang peklat na patunay sa nangyari nang gabing iyon.
"Prepare to die..."
I let out a sharp breath. Why do I keep remembering that voice? Is this a premonition? A warning that I should not lay my hands to the next target?
I turned on the television to distract myself from the haunting memories. Bumungad sa akin ang imbestigasyong ginagawa ng mga kapulisan para malaman kung sino ang kumuha ng korona at pumatay sa isang myembro ng FBI. Wala silang makuhang matibay na ebidensyang makatutulong para sa kaso. Obviously, I won't leave evidence that'll lead them to me. I'm very careful with my work. Nakipagtulungan na rin ang awtoridad ng Pransiya sa Inglatera. It'll take them forever to know I am the culprit. Well, iyon ay kung hindi ibibigay ni Axis ang mga litrato ko sa kanila.
Ugh, that ass. Umepal pa eh.
Nagtungo ako sa kusina upang magtimpla ng hot choco. Pinoproblema ko talaga ang mga litratong nasa kamay ng mga Croix. Kung sakaling hindi ko maibalik sa kanila ang kwintas na iyon, paniguradong ipagkakalat nila ito in public.
May pang-blackmail sila sa akin. I need to destroy it immediately. Wala akong tiwalang ibibigay nila sa akin iyon kapalit ng kwintas na hiling nila. I'm sure they'd use it for their scheme para pabagsakin ang Rogue Raven, so that they'd be on top. Habang nasa kanila ang ebidensyang iyon, makakaya nilang paikutin ako sa kanilang palad. Damn it.
Habang hawak ang isang tasa ng hot choco ay kinuha ko ang phone ko at tinawagan si Tito Hunter. He answered right away. "What can I do for you, young lady?"
"Saan ang headquarters ng mga Croix?"
"I don't know. Kagaya ng atin ay sikreto ang HQ nila," he answered. "Why? Are you finally interested with the ravens' businesses?"
"No. I just need information about them for my next larceny. Pakikuha lahat ng impormasyong makukuha niyo sa mga Croix, ASAP," I told him.
"What's your next target, Adaleah? You just stole the crown in UK."
"Just a necklace," I answered. "Also, can you send me the names of all your ravens and the information you gathered from Eleanor last year? I just need to check on something."
"Why?" Tito Hunter asked, but I didn't answer. Nagpasalamat ako't ibinaba na ang tawag.
I just want to make sure that no one from the people around me is a spy. I'm still wondering how Axis knew about my illegal acts. Did he investigate thoroughly or did someone tell him about my secret? I have to know.
I dialed Eleanor's number afterward. Kahit na pinaghihinalaan ko siya, I still need her expertise for my next thievery.
She answered after three-dial tone. "Good morning!"
Halatang iritado ito. I forgot na magkaiba nga pala ang oras dito at oras doon. "Sorry to wake you up. Kailan uwi mo sa Pinas?"
"This afternoon. Kasama ko si Wine," she said. "You need my help?"
"Yeah," I answered, then told her about my next target.
"I heard about that necklace," aniya.
"I want you to disable the security cameras there. Maybe tomorrow, we can go and check the place. Kailangan ko rin iyong device ni Wine. 'Yong structure sensor. Tell him to bring it here. So we could get the 3D version of the whole place."
"Alright. We'll go to your unit as soon as possible. Wala ka bang pasok?"
"Isang subject lang ang papasukan ko bukas. Kailangan kong planuhin ito nang mabuti. Plus, I'll have to burn all the evidences the Croix has against me," saad ko.
"Wait. Croix?" she asked.
Napataas ako ng kilay. "Axis Croix. He's the one who asked me to get the necklace and blackmailed me with the photos of my crime. Why? Does Croix ring a bell?"
"Yeah..." aniya sa mas mababang tono. "I think Dad is a client of their company. Remember my sister's..." she stopped. "Nevermind. Past naman na iyon. I don't want to bring it back."
Of course, she didn't want to remember that sorrowful night where she lost her entire family. If it isn't for me, she wouldn't be alive today.
"I'll see you tomorrow," aniya saka ibinaba ang tawag.
And then kinuha ko iyong calling card ni Axis. I sent him a message asking kung kailan ang exact date ng auction. Nagreply naman siya ng, September 24.
So, there are almost two weeks before the actual event. I need to think of a plan deliberately.
First, kailangan kong i-survey ang lugar. Second, kailangan kong malaman kung paano ang plano ng organizer ng Galileo's Pyramid. Third, kailangan kong malaman kung gaano kahigpit ang magiging security. Fourth, I need to burn the evidence na mayroon ang mga Croix laban sa akin. Fifth, I need to prepare weapons to be ready if something unexpected happened.
I'm pretty sure Axis will keep an eye on me. Paiikutin niya ako sa kanyang palad. But that'll not happen dahil sila ang paiikutin ko. I have already formulated a plan as to how I will fool the Croix. But I need to take it step-by-step. Slow and sure.
Harapan pa lang ay kitang-kita na kung gaano ka-elegante ang lugar. Kung titingnan sa labas ay mukha itong makabagong mansyon. There was a huge functioning fountain in front. A gazebo on one side and a mini pool on the other. May mga dining tables din doon.
Sa tuktok ng malaking double doors ay nakaukit ang pangalan ng lugar, Galileo's Pyramid. Mula sa pagre-research ko kagabi ay nalaman kong isang retired businessman ang nagmamay-ari nito, Hansen Galileo III. Dahil sa katandaan ay ang kanyang lalaking anak na ang namamahala rito.
Two chauffeurs welcomed us at the entrance. Nginitian ko sila pareho. "Adaleah Alvarez, Eleanor Spyder, and Wine Acer."
May tiningnan ang isang lalaki roon sa folder na hawak niya bago ngumiti. "Table number 25, Madam."
Ang isa nama'y nag-bow sa amin bago ituro ang daan. "This way, Ma'am, Sir."
Sumunod kami sa kanya. Masyadong elegante ang lugar na ito. The atmosphere is incredibly calming, though. Good thing, I wore a dress.
"Two cameras sa entrance. One on top of the fountain. I think meron din sa gazebo," bulong sa akin ni Eleanor. Pinagmasdan ko ang paligid habang naglalakad kami sa dining area. May malaking chandelier sa gitna ng hall. At sa pagpasok ay mayroong red carpet.
Narating namin ang table namin nang nakamasid sa bawat detalye ng lugar. Ani Eleanor ay mayroong CCTV sa chandelier mismo at sa bawat corner ng room. I don't think dito gaganapin ang mismong auction. There are three floors. I'm pretty sure sa second floor iyon.
Binuklat ko ang menu. Sobrang mamahal ng pagkain dito. But I don't care about the cost. I can afford it. I settled with the buttered lobster, and pink salmon.
"You'll pay?" taas-kilay na tanong ni Wine. Unlike Eleanor, who's a bit jolly, Wine's the serious type. And also, he's a jerk.
"Of course," sabi ko na lamang. Nang umalis ang waiter ay tumayo ako, sumunod naman si Eleanor.
"We'll look around. Stay here, Wine. Then mamaya, i-scan mo gamit iyang device ang kabuuan ng resto," I told him. He didn't say a word, but he nodded. Eleanor and I acted normal while roaming around the place. Ilang beses na naming ginawa ito. We're good.
Later on, we parted ways. She needs to go through the security area. Hula niya ay nasa third floor iyon. She can do her job uncaught kaya hinayaan ko na lang siya. I'm confident she wouldn't fail. I won't trust her on this if she isn't good anyway.
Pagdating sa second floor ay mas elegante ang lugar. There was a huge stage at one corner. I'm sure the auction will be held here dahil mukhang ito ang event's area.
May malaking chandelier ulit sa gitna ng ceiling, katapat ng mga tables. I presume there'll be an event tonight dahil busy ang mga staff sa pag-aayos dito.
Kung ganito rin ang magiging ayos sa auction ay medyo mahihirapan ako. If I'll try to steal the necklace during the event, malaki ang tiyansang mahuli ako. So I'll do the usual. I'll sneak and steal the necklace before even the event starts. I just have to know where it'll be located.
"Uhmm, miss, sorry, but this is a private section. Sa baba po ang public dining area," said one of the staff.
I smiled sweetly at her. "I'm sorry I was looking for my friend kasi."
I scanned the place once more before turning around. Sakto namang may natamaan akong isang matigas na pader. Or should I say, a man's chest.
I lifted my gaze and saw none other than, Axis Jeo Croix. He was wearing a business suit at mukhang may ka-meeting ito dahil may kasama siyang lima pang lalaking naka-business attire rin.
"Oops," I murmured, grinning before walking pass him. Hindi naman niya ako pinigil dahil wala rin namang dahilan para mag-usap kami.
Hinintay ko si Eleanor sa dulo ng hagdan. Hindi naman siya nagtagal at bumaba rin. She raised her thumb. "I can manage to disable the security cameras. Perfect timing lang kasi para makapasok sa security room nila, kailangan ng fingerprint ng authorized staff."
"So?"
"I need to go through the staff's files pati 'yong sched nila. It's pretty basic. How 'bout you? Nakagawa ka na ng final plan?"
I grinned and crossed my arms. "I'll tell you when it's done."
Bumalik na kami sa table namin. Wine was waiting there impatiently dahil dumating na ang aming order. When we got into our seats, I told him to do his task. He did what he was told.
Eleanor and I decided to start eating without him dahil baka magsuspetya ang ilan. While eating, hinibla kong mabuti ang aking plano.
I will steal the necklace before the event starts. Then I'll replace it with a perfect replica to fool the Croix. Rylan can make a perfect duplicate of the necklace. I just have to tell him the details, and he could do it in a snap.
I'll tell Axis to meet up at some random place so I could give him the fake necklace in exchange for the photos in his hands. Let's just hope he won't get too suspicious so that I could escape his wrath. But of course, an unexpected thing might happen, so I need to put my guards up.
"I'll send you what I got later," Wine said, slumping on his seat. Hindi man lang ito pinagpawisan sa ginawa.
"So, mind telling me who's the hot guy staring at you right now?" Eleanor grinned. Dinungaw ko kung sino ang tinutukoy niya. I wasn't stunned to see Axis' stern look.
His facial features really have similarities with someone I know. If only he'd be less uptight, mapagkakamalan ko silang magkapatid. Which is quite impossible since that guy is very righteous habang itong si Axis naman ay kabilang sa isang ilegal na organisasyon. They might have a resemblance, but they're entirely different. Isa pa'y walang kapatid si...
I stopped myself. Why am I even thinking about him?
Kumaway ako kay Axis at ngumisi bago binaling ang tingin ko kay Eleanor, "That's Axis."
"Oh. He's the CEO of their company?" Medyo tumabang ang kanyang boses.
I nodded.
"He's young..." aniya saka palihim na sinulyapan si Axis.
Bumaling muli ako kay Wine. "I need something from you."
"Again?" he scoffed.
I raised my eyebrow and continued, "I'll give you his phone number. There's a big possibility na nasa kanya lang ang mga pictures. So, I need you to trace his location now and then. If you're able to do that, inform me right away."
Wine, still having his blank expression, nodded.
"Thanks, Winey," I cooed and turned my gaze to see Axis still looking at me. I grinned and flipped my hair before mouthing a tiger growl. You know, the things flirt does when they try to get a man's attention.e
Kumunot ang noo niya sa ginawa ko at umirap. Natawa ako sa sariling kalokohan bago ibaling ang atensyon sa pagkain.