VINCENT MILES: AND THE FIST OF FIRE

BOOK 3 CHAPTER 23: TICKET SECURED

“Are you stupid, huh?! You just got us in a predicament! Do you actually think that the others would be dumb and just assume that Pedro left? What kind—”

“Don’t worry, everything is planned from the beginning. I will not do that if I had no precautions. Trust me, I fried the cameras from the inside. Every single one of ‘em.” Vincent assured Jessica who is now freaking out.

Who wouldn’t be? Vincent just took down one of the most infamous criminals in the world and cut his head like that, his men will definitely take action. Not to mention the fact that the two of them are in an important mission right now. So, one mishap, and everything is over. And what Vincent did is something what an idiot would do. His reasoning of doing it is correct, he just served justice, however, because of that they are put into a tight spot and Jessica couldn’t even think of something to make an excuse of Pedro’s disappearance. It is because of what Vincent did, they are going to make the other bosses suspicious and wary around them, and that will decrease the chance of them finding out who is the manager of this place. That means…mission failed.

“What do you mean you fried every camera? How?” Jessica asked.

“It’s complicated. But, rest assured, I fried ‘em and they are not seeing and hearing us right now. Let’s clean up the blood in the bathroom and remove the stench of a corpse in there before housekeeping arrives.” Vincent replied.

After finishing up the, the two remained in their suite for another hour. And in that hour, Jessica was anxious. She is afraid of what will come next. But then, they heard a commotion. Vincent stood up and stretched his arms,

“Now, it’s time for something interesting,” he then looked at Jessica “Listen, what I’ve done might be stupid and reckless. However, that act might get us a ticket to meet the boss.”

“But, how?!”

“Trust me, if everything goes well later, then the line to the manager will be secured. Let’s go outside and let me do the talking. And another, there are no cameras in the hallway, remember it.” Vincent nodded.

They went out of their suite and as they come out, Yuji suddenly pounced at Vincent who expected that this would happen,

“Where is he?! Where…is…he?!” Yuji erupted as he tugged on the collar of Vincent ‘s polo shirt.

“Where is who?” Vincent pretended to be clueless and dumb.

“You know who we are looking for. Pedro! He went missing earlier! And the last person that he went to was you!”

“Yuji, that’s enough! We can’t just blame him. But we do have to ask. So, bring him up to his feet and let him explain.” Agatha calmly spoke to calm down Yuji.

Yuji brought Vincent back to his feet, lifting him like a toddler. The criminal backed up as Vincent cleared his throat and explained. It was true that Pedro came to him earlier to deliver the goods they’ve had a deal with. However, after the delivery, he left. And that was the last time they saw him, according to Vincent’s story.

“Liar! He is clearly lying, Agatha. He might’ve killed him to---”

“What would I gain if I killed Sir Pedro? Fame? Power? His wealth? Or influence? No. War will come after me once I kill him. And as a starter at this business and environment, I can’t have a war with them, because that would surely kill me.” Vincent butts in.

“He’s right, Yuji. Besides, Roberto has no reason to kill him. In any case, Don Roberto, can we please examine the surveillance camera in your suite in the control room to confirm and to have some clue?” Agatha politely asked.

Vincent agreed.

“We were going there in the first place, let’s go.” Vincent says as he then snapped his fingers.

Vincent was snapping his fingers along their way to the control room. Yuji got annoyed of it. Vincent apologized as it was just a mannerism of his and he can’t help but do it. They arrived at the control room and Jessica was nervous. Vincent noticed it as he can sense the vibration of her heartbeat which was racing. And out of instinct, Vincent suddenly held her sweaty hand. Jessica didn’t seem to mind, so Vincent continued,

“Sir, please review the footage from suite 56,” Agatha requested to the security man.

However, the man refused,

“I’m sorry, Ma’am. We are not authorized to review it, unless we are given permission by the higher-ups. And that higher-up is—”

“Me. Nicholas.” A voice entered the room.

Everyone turned around and greeted the Sir with a bow. Vincent slightly clicked his tongue as this is not what he expected,

“Review the footage. We can’t lose the trust of our valued customer.” Says Sir Nicholas.

The security guy nodded then worked on the cameras in Vincent and Jessica’s suite. And there it was, in that big monitor, shows that Pedro was inside the suite 56. The same conversation can be heard between Vincent and Pedro. However, as Pedro was going out the door, everything went black. There was no audio anymore and they can only see nothing.

“There! I knew it! They are the ones who—”

“Remember what I said earlier, that I was going to the control room anyway in the first place? That’s because of that. I smelled something burning inside our suite, so I want someone to check on it. And if it was me, then it will not make sense since I was standing by the door, seeing Pedro off. I have to be super-fast or have—”

“Fire powers to pull that thing off. He’s correct again, Mister Yuji.” Sir Nicholas says.

“So, no one is going to talk about the fact that they are reporting it after an hour of Pedro disappearing? Isn’t it suspicious? If the cameras and voice recorders were truly fried at the moment, then it should’ve reeked smoke by then. Now, explain yourself!” Yuji angrily pointed at Vincent.

In Jessica’s mind, it is all over. She began sweating buckets starting from her hands. She took a tighter grip on Vincent’s hand who suddenly chuckled,

“I don’t if you know this, but please, listen,” Vincent then looked at Sir Nicholas “Please correct me, sir, if I’m wrong.”

“I would do my best to stay to the truth,”

“Well, I’ve read in a book in my suite that there’s a certain system in this facility. In the book, it is said that if one of it burns from within, it will not leak out as to avoid a fire alarm that might get the guests confused. They might think that it is an enemy raid or something, instead of a fire. So, the smoke will be contained within the cameras or recorder to avoid that certain situation. Am I right, Sir Nicholas?” Vincent looked at Sir Nicholas again.

The retainer of the boss nodded. What Vincent told everyone was right. However, everything added up to Sir Nicholas now. One of the qualities of the cameras is that it won’t smell right away. The cameras might contain the smoke, but the smell will not be contained within it. That is why, the smell of the burning camera can be smelled after an hour, as it desperately wriggles its way out of the camera. That just states the incredible technology of this building. However, Yuji was not convinced.

“Even so, how can it be fried? To make sure, Sir Nicholas, can we ask both our new guests to reveal their powers? Just to make it clear that it wasn’t them.” Agatha suggested.

Sir Nicholas looked at the two who obliged the request. First, was Jessica. Although nervous, she still pulled herself together to create a water sphere in her already sweaty palm.

“She’s clear. A water element user. Now, Don Roberto, if you please.”

Jessica looked at Vincent nervously. But he looked back at her with a smile to assure her that everything is going to be fine. Vincent then stomped his feet on the ground, and a rock spear began rising up to his hand. Vincent put the stones back to its original state. And with that, they were convi—

“No, releasing powers can be manipulated. We need to find out their true powers in their cores!” Yuji says.

“Yuji, this is enough. It’s clear that they are not the culprit.” Agatha argued.

“No, it’s okay, Ma’am Agatha. I know you’re wary. With this kind of situation happening and that we are also new to this and still suspicious, we are to oblige again in that request. Sir Nicholas, do you know who can—”

“I can do it, it’s my specialty to do this kind of thing. Now, just close your eyes, you two, so we can begin.” Sir Nicholas instructed.

The two nodded. Sir Nicholas then touched the solar plexus of the two to confirm. First, it was Jessica which he confirmed the quickest. She only has the water element as her power. There is no lie. She is clear. And now for Vincent who is now nervous for the first time in this moment. The core doesn’t lie. Once he is found out, the mission is over and—”

“Don Roberto, you are clear, You only have the earth element.” Sir Nicholas announced.

With that, Agatha argued to Yuji that his accusations were way out of line. Yuji humbly apologized to Vincent who just smiled at it. Vincent wiped off the sweat and was glad that Flames might’ve helped him in this one. He will thank him later. In any case, the problem is still not solved. Vincent and Jessica might have avoided the suspicion, but Pedro is still dead/missing.

“Now, let us check the hallway cameras for—”

“That is where we will have a problem. As you can see, this place does not have any camera around its hallways.” Sir Nicholas says.

“What?! You have no cameras in hallways and yet you have cameras in a suite that invades privacy? What kind of place I this?! I can’t believe that I’m saying this, but we need to talk to the manager!” Agatha yelled.

“That won’t be necessary, Miss Agatha. We can resolve it,”

“Do you have something to hide, Sir Nicholas. Because with our suspicions to Don Roberto now gone, we are now thinking that the gambling center might be involved in this. And if you don’t have anything to hide, we will meet with the manager. Schedule a meeting!” Yuji demanded.

Sir Nicholas sighed. He then took out a phone from his pocket and called somebody. It only took a minute of that conversation to end; the retainer then faced the bosses.

“Sunday, at exactly 8 in the morning. The boss shall be here. Please, dress presentably. That’s all.” Sir Nicholas then left the control room.

Vincent then leaned over Jessica’s ear with a slight smirk on his face,

“The ticket is secured.” He whispered.