CHAPTER 20 – Beware

"You gonna start talking now or what?" asked a very serious and very pissed off Kimmy Jin as she rests her hands on the table and leans in across towards Cameron Weiss, a.k.a. Tom Hamilton. "Cameron, being silent in interrogations doesn't really help you. You're still here, under a number of files against you. Everything will be much easier if you would speak now." She said as calmly as possible even though she was pretty sure she would explode in front of his face any second.

But still, Tom looks at her with pure disdain in his eyes; his mouth not moving, not even a twitch. Thus, another staring contest has begun between the two.

"That's enough Kim. We'll take another day."

Kimmy Jin stood up straight and released an annoyed sigh as she heard the order from her com. She wanted to punch the silent douche bag who was smirking a bit, since he succeeded in not giving her any information. She really wanted to punch the living daylights out of him. But the director already gave her an order and was watching beyond the one-way mirror, so she needed to keep herself contained.

"We'll continue this another day, Mr. Weiss." She said with finality as she exited the small room. She went straight to the office where Director Mitchell was watching the whole interrogation. She stood beside him and they both watched Tom be taken away by security.

"I apologize, sir. It seems getting some information out of him is a little difficult than what I had expected." Kimmy said with a sigh.

"It's fine, Kim. You did good." Director Mitchell said. "I just hope we'll be able to sort this out before something wrong happens."

Kimmy nodded in silence.

"Where the hell have you been, Luke?" Stacie asked. We were once again gathered in Luke's dorm room and this time with Fat Amy and Benji included.

"I already told you, I have been reported back to the agency. I wasn't aware it would take days. They asked me to do a special task, which I already told you guys that I can't tell since it's confidential. I already told you this, for like a hundredth time!" Luke answered back.

"But how could you be reported back to the agency when you have a current assignment here? Which is a high priority, I might add." Jesse asked suspiciously. "Plus, the director was here. He, of all people, should know that you were reported back to the agency!" he added.

Good point Jesse. If there's any special tasks that needed to be attend to, dad would be the first and foremost person who would know about this, especially if that particular task is "confidential", as Luke claims it to be. I was standing by the corner, quietly listening to their argument about Luke's whereabouts. Soon, Jesse and Stacie gave up trying to get something out of him but their doubts can be shown on their faces. Benji and Fat Amy sat awkwardly quiet at the side of the room, practically unsure of how they would act around their new team mates.

"Could we just cut the crap, and focus on what the director has told when I was gone?" Luke said, annoyance in his voice.

Stacie and Jesse looked at me, both with warning looks. I was pretty sure they were telling me not to tell any details…but I was beaten by Benji.

"Uhm, so me, Fat Amy, and Kimmy Jin were in the detective department…and we were also given this case. We found out that Chloe's ex-boyfriend, Tom Hamilton was a fraud. His name was actually Cameron Weiss. He got fake ID's, fake birth certificates and such. Hence, we took it as a possibility that he might've something to do with the threats that Mr. Charles Beale were receiving. So, we took him out." Benji said in full detail. I inwardly face-palmed myself. Wow, what a word vomit that was.

"Huh." Luke said as he leaned back to his swivel chair and his arms crossed over his chest. A slight of smug look upon his face as he said, "How interesting that Tom was actually this close to Chloe…" Luke said as he used his forefinger and thumb to show a little space between them. "He could've killed Chloe anytime all the while we were protecting her." He continued.

"He didn't though. Which made me think why?" I sneaked in to the conversation. "If he was the culprit, he would've done something to her way before we even got this assignment." I said.

"What are you saying, Bec?" Fat Amy said. "Are you implying that Tom isn't the real culprit?" she added. I raised my eyebrow at her.

"Actually, that's not impossible." I said. "Stacie and I talked a few days ago that Tom might just be a decoy."

"A decoy?" Luke asked. I nodded. "How so?" he followed up.

"Tom might've been just a distraction. If he was hired by the culprit, and the job given to him was to change his personality …I think he's really meant to be a distraction. We would all think he would be the culprit, and when he's behind the bars, we lower our guards down then we might not be noticing that the culprit is actually on the move. Even at this second." I explained. I can see their heads nodding in realization.

"Beca's right. Even if Tom is already in the hands of the agency right now, as long as we don't have the info from Dir. Mitchell and Kimmy Jin, it's not yet time to relax." Stacie said as she stood beside me.

"Also, Dad reminded me that we should still put our guards up. We don't know, but the real culprit is out there." I said.

"So what's the plan now?" Luke asked.

"We stick to the original plan. Only this time, Fat Amy and Benji would join us too. Benji, you and Luke would be teaming up from now on. Get surveillances. Watch the surroundings, acknowledge us immediately if you found something suspicious going on around. All of us should wear their respective coms at all times. We can't risk the communication in times of need. Fat Amy, Lily…you two would be teaming up as an observer in the Bellas. So while Stacie and I guard Chloe, we still have eyes and ears from the other Bellas." I ordered and they all nodded. "As of you, Jesse…keep on observing the Trebles. Especially Bumper and Donald, since you told me that they were Tom's friends." I said and he nodded.

"Well, if there won't be any more questions…we're all dismissed." I said with finality, and with that we all moved to go back to our own lives except from Stacie, Lily, Fat Amy and I since there would be Bella's practice in a half hour. The walk from Luke's dorm to the rehearsal space was rather quiet, although I sense that the girls have some thoughts and questions which they are too shy to speak out. I myself have some questions too. Why Stacie and Jesse gave me that look? Why did they doubt Luke so much? It's not like he did something wrong…he just weirdly disappeared for a couple of days with the weirdest reasons. But it did seem a bit sketchy to me, but it's Luke Fraser. He's one of the most trusted agents from the CIA, he's been working in the agency for like 8 years already….

I have to keep my eye on him, though.

Aaron Mitchell stares into space as he rests his chin on his hands. It was certain that being a director in the CIA isn't a very easy job. But this certain case of Mr. Charles Beale was kind of wearing him out. They are this close to the answer, yet so far away. Unless Cameron Weiss gives the information, the life of Charles Beale and his family would be at an endangered risk for every second of their life. Not only that, but his daughter, Beca, seemed to be already involve in the situation. Knowing that Beca already made a friendly relationship with Ms. Chloe Beale, he can't help but worry about his daughter. Although he knows that his daughter is an excellent agent who mastered all hand-to-hand combat techniques and knows how to handle all types of fire-arm.

Kimmy Jin knocks on his door, and inserts her head between the space of the doorway to look at the director.

"Sir, it's time." She informed.

"I'll be right out." He answered with a nod. Kimmy Jin nodded silently then retreats her head back to close the door. Aaron stood up and sighed. He arranged his tie and blazer before walking out of his office. She looked at him with an expectant stare and he nodded.

"Let's go."

With that, they headed towards the interrogation room. They were once again in the dark office before the interrogation room, where a large window is placed, showing Tom sitting, his hands cuffed on the steel table, and his eyes were staring blankly on the wall in front of him. Kimmy Jin placed her com inside her ear, preparing herself for the interrogation.

"I'll try my best, sir." She said. The director looked at her and gave her a small smile.

"We need him to speak up, Kim. It's the only way."

"I know sir."

"Make him speak up."

She nodded then walked towards the interrogation room. Director Mitchell crossed his arms over his chest, his features were all serious at the moment as he watches the conversation beyond the window.

"Mr. Weiss, we meet once again. And every time we meet, I will still ask you the same question. So once again I-"

"I know the question." Tom said, while giving Kimmy a glare. Kimmy Jin smirked inwardly.

"As I was saying, I wanted to ask you once again -"

"Yes!" Tom blurted out, his face showing stress and fatigue. "You want an answer?! Fuck yes! I was hired to keep an eye on Chloe Beale!" he continued.

Kimmy Jin was startled, same as Director Mitchell from beyond the window.

"When did you start this hired job of yours?" she asked Tom.

"Exactly 4 years ago, way before Chloe entered college. I got an e-mail one day while I was looking for a job since I was totally broke. Then when I read that e-mail, it said that I was hired by a certain person. It said I needed to keep an eye on Chloe, and all it takes are some change in my personal bio data. Then I found my ATM account was filled with money. So I had no choice but to take the job!" Tom explained.

Kimmy Jin was silent for a few moments, thinking what she would do next. "Do you know your employer?"

"No." he answered, exhausted from his sudden outburst.

She sighed.

"He's still in Louisiana though." He said that made her look at him. "I got an e-mail like from 2 days ago that I did a good job, and that I won't be needed anymore."

Kimmy Jin looked at the one-way mirror, but she was actually looking at Director Mitchell with an alarmed look. She returned her look on Tom, then walked in front of him.

"One last thing." She said as she took something inside her blazer pocket. She laid the Polaroid picture of Beca with the X mark on it for him to see. "Did you do this?"

He shook his head as he looks at her in the eyes. "No."

I walk up to the next shelf as I place another CD in its rightful place. Jesse was out, buying Luke his lunch (it has been Jesse's responsibility ever since) but of course there's the usual grumble of Jesse.

"Hey Becky, listen." Luke called out as he came from the booth. "It seemed that Jesse and Stacie are quite off with me."

I turned to him, giving him a blank stare then shrugged. "I don't know man. They didn't tell me anything."

"But during the last meeting, you knew they had those look on their faces." He said, his face looking hurt.

"I don't know exactly what they were trying to imply at that time." I said, half-truth though.

"I just…" he began, but sighed eventually. "Nevermind. I'll just go back to the booth. Oh and by the way, regionals of the acapella competition is next week, right?"

I nodded.

"Alright. Well, goodluck." He said.

"Thanks." I simply said as I gave him a small smile and he walked back to the booth.