Teen Spy: The Observer

Chapter 24

"Hello!" Sasha approaches the security guard of the stairs. "Sorry to bother but could you take a picture of me with this view? It's just magnificent!"

The guard seems to want to deny the request, but Sasha doesn't let him. She pleads with him and even flirts a little until she manages to drag him closer to the window before he grants her request.

Meanwhile, Kiara and Will quietly climb the stairs and move out of sight. They quickly walk down the halls to the other side of the villa and stay vigilant.

"Are you sure the cameras won't detect us?" Kiara asks Will as they make their way to Berte's office.

"Positive." Will states. "I ran an algorithm that erases us from the footage"

Kiara nods, relaxing a little. As they approach the destination, she takes out her eyeglasses and activates the infrared mode.

"Clear", she says after studying the office and its surrounding area for anyone around.

Will immediately starts working on the code lock of the door.

"This kind of security for an office is not normal." Will comments.

"Good" Kiara says with a smirk knowing they are in the right path.

In a few seconds, they're inside and Kiara shuts the door quietly.

The office has a desk in the center with a window that leads to a small balcony. One wall is mostly bare, with only a TV decorating it while another has many awards, certificates and even a map. The last one has a door and shelves with books and files.

Will sits down on the chair after putting some gloves on and logs into the computer. Meanwhile, Kiara inspects the office. First, she peeks into the balcony. The grape fields extend under it as far as the eye can reach. There are workers handling machinery and cultivating the plants.

There is nothing blocking the view, which means that if those in the vineyard happen to look towards the main building, the balcony is in plain sight. A rapid escape through here is possible of rising notice. There is also the minor detail of the fall with nothing to cushion it that complicates matters.

Kiara then moves to the second door and opens it to find a walk-in closet filled with wine bottles. There is enough room for one person to stand comfortably, but two would be squished together. However, it could work as a hiding place.

Having finished her inspection, she scans the files and books in the shelves trying to find anything useful. The books are undisturbed, with a thin layer of dust on them. The files, however, have had more use. Kiara quickly browsers them but finds nothing useful. She places them back in the same position they were before.

"Berte's seems to be cutting short his tour." Sasha mutters through the comms.

"Copy that" Kiara says as she moves closer to the map. "How's it going Will?"

"Almost finished." Will says.

Kiara returns her focus to the map. There is something about it that bothers her, but she cannot place her finger on what it is. She changes the glasses to camera mode and takes some pictures, vowing to study it later.

"Did you find anything?" Kiara says and moving behind him to see the screen.

"There're some interesting money transactions and emails that I'm tracking down."

His hands move quickly over the keyboard.

"Berte's on the move" Sasha urgently interrupts. "You have less than a minute to get out of there."

"I'm almost done." Will says through the comms.

Kiara activates again the infrared and sees Berte with someone else heading their way. Her stomach turns into a knot of nerves.

"There's no time!" She whispers to Will, already moving to the wine closet and opening the room.

"Finished!" Will whispers back, erases his presence from the computer and leaves it as he found it.

Kiara motions for him to move into the room. After he enters, she closes the door, and tries to breath as soundlessly as possible. The room is completely dark and silent. It barely fits the two of them. Kiara is very aware of Will's body pressed against hers. She feels his breath near her face, making her skin tingle all over. Her cheeks heat up.

Fortunately, the office door opens, distracting her. With her glasses still active, she sees how two figures enter. One of them sits in the chair that Will just emptied while the other remains standing. The first one presumably Berte.

"Those kids were very impressed with your speech" the other man praises in French.

"As always" Berte brags.

He starts typing in his computer.

Will shifts and a low light comes from his watch. Kiara sees him activating the record mode and she does the same.

"Now, what was so urgent that it couldn't wait ten more minutes?" He asks distractedly.

"You have a call on THE line, sir." The man states.

Berte stops cold and seems to be staring at his assistant.

"The private one, sir."

That gets Berte's attention. He sits straighter and clears his throat.

"You can leave now, Adrien." Berte says.

Adrien bows his head and leaves the room. Berte then presses the speaker on the second phone on the desk.

"Has it been taken care of?" the voice says without a greeting.

"Yes, it appeared on the news earlier this week" Berte answers.

"Good, and what was the cause of death?"

"It was ruled out as a heart attack. I made sure of it."

There's a pause and Berte fidgets in his seat. Kiara notes that whoever is this voice, he makes Berte uncomfortable.

"What about the shipment?" the voice finally asks.

"It will arrive tomorrow at midnight as scheduled."

"I want you there to supervise."

"But-" Berte starts to protest but the voice interrupts him.

"That's an order Luis. You'll go to Port of Le Havre and make sure that everything runs smoothly. When you get back to the lab, I want a full report. Did I make myself clear?"

There is no anger in the voice only a confidence and the threat of repercussion if Berte doesn't do as told.

"Yes, sir." Berte says in a tight voice.

Immediately the line goes dead and Berte slumps in his chair. He rubs his face with his hands and lights a cigarette. After a few seconds, he stands up and walks towards the wine room.