Veiled Vendetta

CHAPTER EIGHT

Alex reassured, "It's not that. We were just worried about you." Izzy met his gaze and responded, "You know, you guys should be more concerned about the other girls since they're closer to you. They're often targeted." Confused, Alex questioned, "Why would they do that?" Izzy stared at him in silence, opting not to answer.

Luiz chimed in, "How did you know the box contained cockroaches?" Izzy replied, "I heard there's a business that sells real insects, dead or alive." Alex was intrigued, "How did you know it was from that business?" Izzy explained, "They use different colored boxes, but all their ribbons have the same design." Handing over the ribbon, she pointed out, "If you look closely, this ribbon has the sick emoji printed on it. I noticed it when Evy held the box. I wasn't sure if the insects inside were alive or dead, so I brought it here. Luckily, they were dead, and Evy hadn't opened it. She detests insects." As she spoke, the two boys exchanged looks, while Izzy glanced back at the bucket.

As Izzy walked back, memories from her past resurfaced. She didn't just hear about the business; she knew it inside out. In the past, she used to indulge in similar pranks, except she preferred using live insects. Izzy reminisced about the various tactics she employed to play tricks on her classmates. The expressions on their faces used to bring her immense delight. Bullying the bullies, making them experience what they dished out to others, was something she found strangely enjoyable. She mused, 'I suppose I wouldn't mind doing it one more time.'

Seated behind the twins on the sofa, Izzy focused on the information displayed on the screen. JD began, 'So, we managed to extract some vague details from Mrs. Wilson. She mentioned that DAA stands for Direct Avenue Authority. It grants security privileges to individuals who possess it in their accessories.' Izzy raised an eyebrow, 'Accessories?' JD elaborated, 'Indeed, certain major companies provide distinctive accessories to their primary security personnel. Our task is to identify which company issues rings with that particular engraving.'

'And the HQ presumably stands for Head Quarters. Hence, the people we observed are likely from a company's headquarters security team,' Izzy deduced. 'We need to discover which company distributes rings for their headquarters security personnel.' JD immediately resumed his analysis, diving into the research.

Meanwhile, Izzy turned to GD and inquired, 'What about the box? Any progress?' GD responded, 'I managed to contact our reliable sources, and they promptly sent us their recent customer list.' Handing his tablet to Izzy, he continued, 'I narrowed down the list to students from your school. There are three names here.'

Izzy scanned through the list, nodding as she glanced over it. 'I need their class schedules and locker numbers. If they registered together, the company would have taken down all their names. Also, put in a special order for me,' she instructed GD. He acknowledged her request and returned to his task. Izzy, with a mischievous grin on her face, added, 'And I have another task to attend to.'

Izzy ventured outside and made her way to a small shop nestled in the heart of City W. The unique charm of this city was its inclusivity, welcoming all sorts of establishments and people. Entering the quaint shop, she called out, "Hey, old man, where are you? I need something."

A voice responded from the back, "I am at the back." Izzy navigated her way there to find a man in his mid-fifties. He was a former criminal renowned for his expertise in crafting keys for any lock. As he turned around and laid eyes on Izzy, he chuckled, "Ah, kid, what brings you here? Aren't you supposed to be on your daily patrol?"

Izzy smirked, "The city's police have got it covered for now. The twins are occupied, and I need your assistance." The old man's curiosity piqued, "Let me guess, misplaced your motorbike keys?" Izzy shook her head, replying, "No, I require locker keys."

Surprised, the man widened his eyes, "This city is practically yours. Why would you need to rob a bank?" Izzy laughed, "I have no intentions of robbing a bank, but I do need keys for my school's lockers." The man's interest was piqued, "Show me your school's lockers."

Izzy showed him the images of the school lockers and inquired, "When can I expect them?" The man contemplated for a moment, "Day after tomorrow." Izzy grinned, "Perfect."

As Izzy strolled through the bustling streets of the city, a familiar voice called out her name. Turning around, she spotted Jade hurrying toward her. Jade inquired, "What brings you here?" Izzy explained, "My mom needed some things, but they were out of stock. I'm heading back to my apartment."

Jade suggested, "Why don't you join us? We were just about to call you. I stopped by the supermarket for something." Curious, Izzy asked, "Where are the others?" Jade replied, "They're at the movie theater, catching the night show."

Izzy hesitated, "I have some places to check out. Why don't you all enjoy the movie, and perhaps meet me later in front of my apartment building? Luiz and Alex know the spot." Jade nodded, agreeing, "Okay, I'll inform everyone." With that, Jade made her way back, while Izzy continued toward her apartment.

Izzy, along with the boys, wrapped up their tasks, tidying up the place and preparing some food. JD and GD assisted Izzy in cooking while tidying the place. With everything in order, Izzy checked the CCTVs and spotted her friends on their way. She hurried downstairs to greet them.