Veiled Vendetta

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Izzy stood in the corner, observing her parents as they danced. A man approached her, introducing himself as Robert Anderson, the CEO of Avenue Company. "Hello, I'm Izabella Wilson," she replied calmly. Robert seemed to know about her role overseeing W City, a fact that surprised Izzy. She pondered whether it was appropriate to label an adult she didn't like as an "idiot," but instead, she answered, "Ah, did my dad mention that? Yes, I oversee the city." Robert inquired further, curious about how she managed such a large city by herself. Izzy explained the community effort within W City, mentioning its police force and collaborative atmosphere. Robert seemed impressed and complimented the concept before excusing himself and walking away.

At school, Izzy's friends inquired about her absence. Izzy offered a vague response, stating, "I just had some things to do at home. That's all." Fortunately, her friends didn't press her further. During class, Izzy realized her desk had been changed; it appeared pristine, devoid of any carvings or scratches. Nina informed her that Luiz had swapped her desk, explaining that since Izzy hadn't been present in the past, it might be better not to be reminded by the desk's history. Unsettled by the change, as it had previously belonged to her brother, Izzy leaned towards Luiz during a class and quietly requested, "Can you get me my old desk? I miss it." Following this interaction, Izzy and Luiz avoided further conversation. Their friends sensed tension between them but refrained from addressing it, fearing that intervening might exacerbate the situation.

Seated before the bank of monitors, Izzy attempted to concentrate on the CCTV footage before her, but her thoughts wandered persistently. Luiz's odd behavior during lunch lingered in her mind, distracting her from the task at hand. DJ and BJ entered the room, breaking her concentration. BJ approached Izzy and stated, 'Izzy, we got what you asked for.'

Acknowledging their effort, Izzy responded, 'Thanks, I'll sneak into the principal's office tonight.' With that, she swiftly left the room. DJ, exchanging a concerned glance with BJ, remarked, 'Isn't Izzy acting a bit strange today?' BJ nodded in agreement, 'Yeah, she definitely is.' The unease about Izzy's behavior remained in their minds as they exchanged perplexed expressions, wondering about the sudden change in their friend's demeanor.

Riding her motorbike toward the school, Izzy attempted to refocus her thoughts. 'Don't dwell too much on Luiz's behavior. He might be going through something. Stay focused on your main goal, Izzy. His birthday is approaching. Let's make it the best gift,' she resolved to herself. Notifying the twins back at the apartment about her arrival at the school, Izzy cautiously sneaked inside.

Previously, security guards only stayed until 1 am, but now they patrolled the school throughout the night. This heightened vigilance forced Izzy to proceed even more cautiously. Finally reaching the office, she began searching for the safe. Investigating under the desk and within drawers, Izzy searched for any potential hidden compartments. At one point, she heard approaching footsteps, quickly hiding herself beneath the door as two individuals entered the room. Once they departed, she resumed her search.

Frustration began to build within Izzy, culminating in her accidentally striking the side of a showcase, revealing its hollow nature. Upon closer inspection, she discovered a hidden compartment concealed on the right side. With a little more pressure, the compartment opened, albeit discreetly. Whispering to herself, 'Interesting spot, but not quite good enough,' Izzy queried BJ through her intercom, 'What's the passcode?' BJ responded, 'October 26, 2010.' When questioned about the significance, BJ explained, 'It's the day he became the principal.'

Utilizing the provided code, Izzy managed to unlock the safe, revealing various items within, including a picture of her brother, his test papers, and his journal. Instantly recognizing his possessions, as she was the one who had gifted him the journal, she retrieved everything and left behind a small note before making her exit.

In her brother's room, Izzy gazed at a picture of them smiling together and murmured, 'Izaiah, It's time to piece everything together.' Sorting through the emails sent by the twins regarding Avenue Company, she delved into Izaiah's journal. The journal unveiled a connection between the school's principal and Robert Anderson. Additionally, one of the HQ guards disclosed that orders were issued to identify Izzy, which she inferred was due to her masquerade mask at the party.

Further investigation highlighted that Robert's right-hand man was the mastermind behind the kidnapping scheme. Digging deeper into the information and connections, Izzy finally pieced it together, muttering to herself, 'Avenue Company's interest lies in acquiring the land beneath W City.'