Chapter 379. Operation: Brainjack, Phase 2; Luring out the Brain (5/10)
“What! Swastika! Is that what you’ve been so busy with over the last five weeks? Are you two crazy! Do you two have a death wish!” Irene screamed in a panic with a hint of fear in her eyes. She naturally knew of their reputation.
“Sorry, I promise I’ll explain everything later. For now, we need you to head to… uh… one sec.”
I searched through Malory’s wallet that I’d retrieved from her cardigan pocket before I dumped it and found her address on one of her ID cards. Thankfully, the keys to her place were also in her pocket.
“Here.” I stuck out Malory’s ID to show Irene.
“Alright, alright. I get it, now’s not the time for me to chew you two out. You better explain what’s going on later.” Irene grumbled in frustration and immediately took off.
“When we get there, we’ll need you to do something else as well.”
“Oh? I get to do more than be the driver this time?”
“Yes, your role is very important. We need you to get in contact with and lure the security guard for the building out of the security room so she can slip inside and gain access to it. We need your skills to keep the guard busy for an hour or two. Do you think you can do it?”
“Hmm… an hour or two? I should be able to do it. Being a security guard is pretty boring and I’m sure they’d be more than happy to chat with me. But just what are you two planning to do during that time?”
I responded with two words, “A murder.”
“A… murder? That’s quite something to get caught up in and drag me into out of the blue.”
“If you don’t want to get involved, you can leave after you drop us off and we can figure something else out.”
“No... it’s fine.”
“Oh? It’s fine? Is that the former part-time crime scene cleaner in you talking?”
“Haha… yeah. You figured it out when you filed my taxes back in April, didn’t you?”
“Naturally, your tax slip from work gave you away.”
“Cheater~ that’s not fair at all~”
“Haha, it’s your own fault for letting your guard down.”
“When we get there, put this on your hands.” Rosa held up a thin hand-shaped piece of a sticky-looking material. It didn’t stick to itself, but it looked like it clung to Rosa’s fingers pretty easily.
“Huh? What are those for?” Irene looked in the rearview mirror and asked.
“They’re designed to leave behind fake fingerprints if you touch anything while wearing them. That way you won’t need to worry when interacting with the security guard or touching things.”
“Oh. That sounds pretty impressive. As expected of an assassin.”
“Also take this earpiece so we can contact you in case of anything. I’ll be able to hear your conversation with the security guard through it since it’s been bugged.” Rosa inserted the earpiece into her ear. It was hidden well under the hair of the wig Irene had on.
“This is pretty exciting. I feel like an undercover spy right now.”
After a ten-minute drive, we arrived at Malory’s place. Rosa and Irene got out of the vehicle first and headed into the building.
Before Rosa left she gave me the syringe with the drug she’d injected Malory with. Half of it was left.
I turned on my two-way radio to listen for when I was clear to enter the building with Malory.
Rosa’s job in the security room, while I was taking care of things on my end, was to put together some doctored footage using some of the recent security camera footage showing Malory returning home at this time alone. The cameras would be down for this period of time and would be replaced with the doctored footage. The footage of her and me entering and leaving the building would be removed and replaced as well.
The disguised Irene would be the only one who remained in the footage seen entering and leaving the building since it had to coincide with the security guard’s recollection of events that transpired tonight.
Haaaah. I’d really done everything I could. Since people would be dying this time around, I’d meticulously planned out everything I could possibly think of long in advance to ensure there weren’t any major holes I missed in this operation.
I was seriously fatigued. Every time I thought I’d thought of everything, something else would always pop up. In the end, I wasn’t able to concoct a completely full-proof plan. Despite it not being full-proof and having some flaws, it was about as solid as I could make it.
There was a big risk I’d have to take here. Getting inside Marlory’s place without being spotted by anyone else inside the building if Malory was uncooperative like she’d been. Thanks to her being uncooperative as I’d feared, I had to carry her inside while she was still unconscious. In the end, for this scenario, the best plan I came up with was to have Rosa keep an eye on the security camera feed and give me the clear.
The only thing on our side right now was the time. It was pretty late so it wasn’t very likely people would exit their units at this hour.
I could only pray things went well. As long as I was careful, it should work out. I’d make it to the stairs and climb them with her on my back if I had to. The last stretch would be carrying her down the corridor to her unit.
“I’m in. The coast is clear and the cameras are down. The security guard is currently preoccupied in the lounge at the front of the building. You can enter through the back and take the stairs directly up to the fifth floor. The cameras en route to the destination aren't recording right now. I’m starting to work on replacing the footage now.” I felt a slight sense of relief when Rosa’s transmission came in.
“Got it, I’m going in now.”
I picked Malory up holding her hand over my shoulder with one hand under her bottom then headed in through the back entrance. I used Malory’s hand to open the doors along the way and made my way up the stairs while carrying her on my back. It was a struggle since I still had the fat suit on, but I somehow made it.
“Is the fifth floor safe?” I radioed in before I opened the door.
“There hasn’t been any movement on the fifth floor this entire time. You should be clear. Move as fast as you can.”
“That’s kind of hard when I’ve got so much baggage.”
“Don’t be a wimp, suck it up. I’ve been running around like crazy over the last five weeks.”
“Thanks for that.”
“Save your thanks for our vacation after this.”
“Yeah. I will.” I kept the volume on the radio to the minimum, opened the door, and moved as quickly as I could.
My heart pounded madly as I read the numbers flying by on each door.
After thirty seconds, I stopped in front of Malory’s unit and tried to insert the key into the lock. My hand was shaking though. Fuck! Seriously hand, calm down. I kept missing the keyhole.
When I heard the sound of a door unlocking a short distance away I turned to look in fright at a trail of light slowly expanding into the corridor from one of the rooms.
I put Malory down on the ground and steadied my hand to insert the key. It went in. Finally! I had no time to rejoice though. I turned the key in the lock, pushed the door open, quickly dragged Malory inside, and shut it behind us.
That was… too close for comfort though.
One of the riskiest steps was down.
I slid down to the ground with my back against the door, exhausted.
“That was pretty close.” Rosa radioed in.
“Yeah, it was. Do you think they saw me entering?”
“No… I don’t think they saw you. They only looked your way after you shut the door. You got lucky this time.”
“Phew... Lucky? What do you mean, lucky? My luck is awful. The fact that someone really exited their unit at this time, just how unlucky can I be? I must have stepped in some rancid dog shit.”
“We don’t have time to joke around. Hurry up and make contact with the target.”
“We need her to wake up first before I do that.”
“Then hurry up and wake sleeping beauties ass up already.”
“How long has it been?”
“She should be waking up soon. It’s already been half an hour.”
“Alright, keep working on the footage in the meantime.”
“I am. Be careful. I’ll let you know if he shows up alone or not. If he doesn’t, we’ll have to go with plan B and I’ll have to link up with you.”
“No. The bait I prepared should be enough to ensure he comes alone.”
“Just what bait is good enough to guarantee that? If it’s just Malory there’s no chance in hell this is going to work.”
“That’s a trade secret.”
“You’re always keeping secrets.”
“Isn’t it more interesting that way?”
She didn’t respond after that and cut our conversation short.
Chapter 379. Operation: Brainjack, Phase 2; Luring out the Brain (5/10)
“What! Swastika! Is that what you’ve been so busy with over the last five weeks? Are you two crazy! Do you two have a death wish!” Irene screamed in a panic with a hint of fear in her eyes. She naturally knew of their reputation.
“Sorry, I promise I’ll explain everything later. For now, we need you to head to… uh… one sec.”
I searched through Malory’s wallet that I’d retrieved from her cardigan pocket before I dumped it and found her address on one of her ID cards. Thankfully, the keys to her place were also in her pocket.
“Here.” I stuck out Malory’s ID to show Irene.
“Alright, alright. I get it, now’s not the time for me to chew you two out. You better explain what’s going on later.” Irene grumbled in frustration and immediately took off.
“When we get there, we’ll need you to do something else as well.”
“Oh? I get to do more than be the driver this time?”
“Yes, your role is very important. We need you to get in contact with and lure the security guard for the building out of the security room so she can slip inside and gain access to it. We need your skills to keep the guard busy for an hour or two. Do you think you can do it?”
“Hmm… an hour or two? I should be able to do it. Being a security guard is pretty boring and I’m sure they’d be more than happy to chat with me. But just what are you two planning to do during that time?”
I responded with two words, “A murder.”
“A… murder? That’s quite something to get caught up in and drag me into out of the blue.”
“If you don’t want to get involved, you can leave after you drop us off and we can figure something else out.”
“No... it’s fine.”
“Oh? It’s fine? Is that the former part-time crime scene cleaner in you talking?”
“Haha… yeah. You figured it out when you filed my taxes back in April, didn’t you?”
“Naturally, your tax slip from work gave you away.”
“Cheater~ that’s not fair at all~”
“Haha, it’s your own fault for letting your guard down.”
“When we get there, put this on your hands.” Rosa held up a thin hand-shaped piece of a sticky-looking material. It didn’t stick to itself, but it looked like it clung to Rosa’s fingers pretty easily.
“Huh? What are those for?” Irene looked in the rearview mirror and asked.
“They’re designed to leave behind fake fingerprints if you touch anything while wearing them. That way you won’t need to worry when interacting with the security guard or touching things.”
“Oh. That sounds pretty impressive. As expected of an assassin.”
“Also take this earpiece so we can contact you in case of anything. I’ll be able to hear your conversation with the security guard through it since it’s been bugged.” Rosa inserted the earpiece into her ear. It was hidden well under the hair of the wig Irene had on.
“This is pretty exciting. I feel like an undercover spy right now.”
After a ten-minute drive, we arrived at Malory’s place. Rosa and Irene got out of the vehicle first and headed into the building.
Before Rosa left she gave me the syringe with the drug she’d injected Malory with. Half of it was left.
I turned on my two-way radio to listen for when I was clear to enter the building with Malory.
Rosa’s job in the security room, while I was taking care of things on my end, was to put together some doctored footage using some of the recent security camera footage showing Malory returning home at this time alone. The cameras would be down for this period of time and would be replaced with the doctored footage. The footage of her and me entering and leaving the building would be removed and replaced as well.
The disguised Irene would be the only one who remained in the footage seen entering and leaving the building since it had to coincide with the security guard’s recollection of events that transpired tonight.
Haaaah. I’d really done everything I could. Since people would be dying this time around, I’d meticulously planned out everything I could possibly think of long in advance to ensure there weren’t any major holes I missed in this operation.
I was seriously fatigued. Every time I thought I’d thought of everything, something else would always pop up. In the end, I wasn’t able to concoct a completely full-proof plan. Despite it not being full-proof and having some flaws, it was about as solid as I could make it.
There was a big risk I’d have to take here. Getting inside Marlory’s place without being spotted by anyone else inside the building if Malory was uncooperative like she’d been. Thanks to her being uncooperative as I’d feared, I had to carry her inside while she was still unconscious. In the end, for this scenario, the best plan I came up with was to have Rosa keep an eye on the security camera feed and give me the clear.
The only thing on our side right now was the time. It was pretty late so it wasn’t very likely people would exit their units at this hour.
I could only pray things went well. As long as I was careful, it should work out. I’d make it to the stairs and climb them with her on my back if I had to. The last stretch would be carrying her down the corridor to her unit.
“I’m in. The coast is clear and the cameras are down. The security guard is currently preoccupied in the lounge at the front of the building. You can enter through the back and take the stairs directly up to the fifth floor. The cameras en route to the destination aren't recording right now. I’m starting to work on replacing the footage now.” I felt a slight sense of relief when Rosa’s transmission came in.
“Got it, I’m going in now.”
I picked Malory up holding her hand over my shoulder with one hand under her bottom then headed in through the back entrance. I used Malory’s hand to open the doors along the way and made my way up the stairs while carrying her on my back. It was a struggle since I still had the fat suit on, but I somehow made it.
“Is the fifth floor safe?” I radioed in before I opened the door.
“There hasn’t been any movement on the fifth floor this entire time. You should be clear. Move as fast as you can.”
“That’s kind of hard when I’ve got so much baggage.”
“Don’t be a wimp, suck it up. I’ve been running around like crazy over the last five weeks.”
“Thanks for that.”
“Save your thanks for our vacation after this.”
“Yeah. I will.” I kept the volume on the radio to the minimum, opened the door, and moved as quickly as I could.
My heart pounded madly as I read the numbers flying by on each door.
After thirty seconds, I stopped in front of Malory’s unit and tried to insert the key into the lock. My hand was shaking though. Fuck! Seriously hand, calm down. I kept missing the keyhole.
When I heard the sound of a door unlocking a short distance away I turned to look in fright at a trail of light slowly expanding into the corridor from one of the rooms.
I put Malory down on the ground and steadied my hand to insert the key. It went in. Finally! I had no time to rejoice though. I turned the key in the lock, pushed the door open, quickly dragged Malory inside, and shut it behind us.
That was… too close for comfort though.
One of the riskiest steps was down.
I slid down to the ground with my back against the door, exhausted.
“That was pretty close.” Rosa radioed in.
“Yeah, it was. Do you think they saw me entering?”
“No… I don’t think they saw you. They only looked your way after you shut the door. You got lucky this time.”
“Phew... Lucky? What do you mean, lucky? My luck is awful. The fact that someone really exited their unit at this time, just how unlucky can I be? I must have stepped in some rancid dog shit.”
“We don’t have time to joke around. Hurry up and make contact with the target.”
“We need her to wake up first before I do that.”
“Then hurry up and wake sleeping beauties ass up already.”
“How long has it been?”
“She should be waking up soon. It’s already been half an hour.”
“Alright, keep working on the footage in the meantime.”
“I am. Be careful. I’ll let you know if he shows up alone or not. If he doesn’t, we’ll have to go with plan B and I’ll have to link up with you.”
“No. The bait I prepared should be enough to ensure he comes alone.”
“Just what bait is good enough to guarantee that? If it’s just Malory there’s no chance in hell this is going to work.”
“That’s a trade secret.”
“You’re always keeping secrets.”
“Isn’t it more interesting that way?”
She didn’t respond after that and cut our conversation short.
