Veiled Vendetta

CHAPTER TWENTY

Late at night, Izzy was at home, feeling bored due to the lack of activity. Together with BJ and DJ, she was determinedly gathering information about the Avenue Company. Avoiding her dad's inquiries was her goal as she didn't want to face uncomfortable questions. As Izzy was about to call it a night, she received an urgent call from DJ. Although it was late, she picked up immediately. Izzy, somewhat irritated, exclaimed, 'DJ, do you see the time right now?' DJ's voice sounded panicked as they urgently said, 'Izzy, come to W City quickly.' Worried, Izzy inquired, 'What's happening, DJ? Tell me now.' Suddenly, BJ took over the call and conveyed, 'Izzy, one of the shops in the city is on fire. There's chaos here. Hurry.' Without hesitation, Izzy ended the call, dashed to her garage, mounted her bike, and raced towards the city.

Earlier, the rain had made the roads slippery. Despite a slip that left Izzy with some arm injuries, she paid them little mind and continued her journey toward the city. Smoke loomed in the distance as she approached, and upon arriving, she found a grocery mart engulfed in flames. People were trying to control the fire as BJ and DJ approached her.

"Did you call the fire department?" Izzy inquired urgently. BJ confirmed, "I already called them. I also alerted the medical department just in case." Izzy then directed, "Find out how this fire started. Check all the CCTV footage, both inside and outside the mart. I need answers within a day."

As firefighters arrived to extinguish the blaze, Izzy made efforts to calm down the shop owners and others present, assuring them that things would be alright. Amidst the chaos, a paramedic approached Izzy, concerned about her visible injuries. Izzy dismissed them, stating, "It's not much, just a little scratch." But the paramedic insisted, "Let me check. Come to the ambulance." Although hesitant, Izzy eventually agreed to be examined. However, BJ reassured her, "Don't worry, Izzy. DJ and I will handle things here. You should get yourself checked."

Izzy decided to heed BJ's advice, knowing that her friends could manage the situation.

After arriving at the hospital, Izzy learned she had sprained her arms due to the slip from her motorbike on the slippery road. The doctor, concerned about potential additional injuries from the accident, requested further tests to rule out any complications such as brain or spinal injuries. Fortunately, the tests revealed no severe issues. However, Izzy needed to be cautious with her arms and wore elbow compression for treatment. Once discharged, Izzy messaged BJ to stay updated and take care of her motorbike, which she had left in the city.

The following day, Izzy decided to take a break from school and went straight to her apartment in W City. Upon arrival, she found the twins already seated in front of their monitors. Placing coffee for them nearby, she began working alongside them. While busy, she received a text from Luiz inquiring why she wasn't at school. Explaining about her injury, she reassured him she was fine but needed rest as advised by the doctor. Luiz expressed concern and mentioned they would visit her after school, reminding her not to overwork herself.

Informing the twins about Luiz and the others visiting later, Izzy suggested focusing on finishing their tasks beforehand. The twins agreed, and they resumed their work. Additionally, Izzy took the initiative to request increased police patrols in the city, both during mornings and evenings, by notifying the local authorities.

The twins meticulously sifted through specific time and area footage while Izzy observed closely, intent on uncovering something significant. After a careful review, she suddenly exclaimed, 'Guys, I found something. Look here.' Pointing to the large screen, she continued, 'See these suspicious figures at the edge of the footage? Take a closer look.' BJ examined it closely and remarked, 'That ring... it's the DAAHQ ring.' Izzy confirmed, 'Exactly, and notice that only one of them is wearing it. The others, the ones he's talking to, have no ring.'

As they reviewed the footage further, DJ remarked, 'Izzy, you're onto something. Around 6 that day, the individuals without the ring can be spotted near the mart.' Izzy added, 'Do you guys understand what this implies? It means that Avenue Company is hiring people from outside their organization for clandestine tasks.' DJ assured, 'I'll start digging for more information on these individuals.' Izzy cautioned, 'But be cautious not to leave any traces.'

As they continued their investigation, Izzy reclined and pondered, 'Why would Avenue Company resort to such actions?'

CEO Robert Anderson of Avenue Company stood by the window in his office, gazing out toward W City. His attention was caught by a ringing phone. He swiftly picked it up and inquired, "So, what happened?" After a brief pause, his expression shifted, "What? A girl? Did anyone get a good look at her? Never mind. Find out everything you can about her and do it quickly." With a hint of frustration, he concluded the call, muttering, "Idiots. They couldn't even identify a girl. Well, at least I know it's a girl."