Chapter 6
After lunch around 15.00, Xander was arriving at the side of the warehouse, afterward heard a whistle and glimpsed back to see Don Lothario come along running.
"Hey Xander, wait up!" Called the Italian watching Xander stop and look back at him. "What are you up to here this afternoon?"
"I think like this morning, fighting," Responded Xander making Don nod.
"Okay, I have no idea if Ayesha told you this before. Perhaps not, this came in just about 20 minutes ago. Nick wants us to reunite together in the cellar for a plan. Would be appreciated if you were there as well. The others are going to be present as well. At least you get to meet the rest of our crew, which is good for the start. You may know somebody already but they have been hiding their criminal side from friends and acquainted," Spoke Don taking out from his pocket the badge card to use it to unlock the door, so both men could enter in there together.
"About the plan, are we going somewhere already?" Questioned Xander making Don shake his head.
"Nope, first we're going to hear, what Nick has figured out recently and speak with us about it. We can agree or discuss with him the plan and see, what we can do,"
"Okay,"
"It may take a few days or a week until we have a good plan for the deed, we want to do. Also, it depends on the day. Could also be a unique opportunity,"
"Yes, I see," Responded Xander following Don downstairs to enter the cellar to spot three persons around the foosball table playing. "Hey…..I know that guy. I saw him in drama class, back when I was at the school," Mentioned Xander, making Don smile and lead the man toward the table.
"Hey guys, have you met Xander yet?" Questioned Don watching the redheaded woman score a goal with the goalkeeper making the two men vice versa to her groan.
"Not bad," Commented the thin man, then felt his friend beside him elbow him to call his attention. "Oh hey, is that the new guy?" Questioned the brunette man making Don nod.
"Yep. That's Xander. Xander that's Robbie as you might already know. The man over there is Nick's younger brother from Hidden Springs, Bert,"
"Welcome to the squad," Said Bert making Xander smile, then look at the woman with freckles, which Xander seemed to recognize from somewhere.
"That's Claire Ursine. Perhaps you know her, she's from Sunset Valley as well,"
"I think I saw her fishing a few times," Commented Xander making Claire nod. "But I assumed she worked at the harbor"
"Once in a while, I brought the bait I've caught to the market. This is more of a hobby," Confessed Claire making Xander nod.
"Alright, I wasn't aware," Commented Xander.
Moments later, a blonde woman with short hair came down with a small box and saw the group reunited around the foosball table, then gave a short whistle.
"Guys, Nick will be here in a moment. Be ready," The blonde declared openly, then moved on to sit down the box on the table to open it to seek through it.
"And who's that?" Questioned Xander.
"That's Marcela Badeau from Bridgeport. She's on our side. She's employed at the police station here and can give us a hand when anything comes our way," Explained Don making Xander nod and observe yet another woman come downstairs, which was Ayesha now.
"Oh you have already informed Xander I see," Spoke Ayesha stopping by the two men.
"We happened to encounter each other here and Don just told me about it," Xander said making Ayesha nod.
"Great, oh, by the way, he brought his daughter along. I have no idea, what his plan is, but don't be frightened," Warned Ayesha, then moved on and Xander looked bewildered at Don.
"Is his daughter….dangerous?"
"No. She's just the opposite of Nick. You don't see it at first but you can sense they don't get quite along," Stated Don making Xander nod. "Does the name Holly Alto ring a bell to you?"
"Uh not really," Confessed Xander making Don nod, afterward they heard louder footsteps and knew immediately it was Nick, which was coming down and Don led the newbie to stand behind the couches to await the leader.
"Look, there she comes," Whispered Don, then the newbie looked at the stairs to see a light-brunette follow her father downstairs with an average mood expression on her face.
"Wait, I think she's a friend of a girl named Bebe, who lived next door to us," Commented Xander making Don nod. "Used to see the two leave the house together to go somewhere,"
Afterward, Nick led his daughter to the front of the corner, where the group had reunited, and moved his hand gently to lead Marcela to sit back on the couch, while Ayesha along with Don and Xander stood behind the couch.
"Perhaps you all have noticed it. We have a new teammate. This is Xander. Vita had introduced him to me this morning and he made it through the ball exam. Now he's with us" Explained Nick making the group nod, then Holly leaned herself against the wall. "I've heard about an upcoming meeting at the doo peas corporation. A reunion between the famous archeologist Johnathan Lefre and Nancy Landgraab. The man found over the months of his trip numerous kinds of valuable relics, which are worth a good amount of money. Currently, it is known his arrival to be on the 16th of April, the exact same date as the community school has its annual prom night. You're wondering, what the school has to do with this all? The answer is simple, I had a possibility that we could use the school as a way to get closer to the office. One of the cellars at the office building is currently being renovated and there's a way I can convince the construction manager to allow a few of us to make a small Track up to the school cellar to smuggle out of the building relics. During the prom night, we would need at least two of you, preferably the youngest out of you to pretend to be two random teenagers attending it as basic school students. Seeing, that we have Xander in our crew, I'm certain you know the school well and can give us a few tips on how to go throughout this," Stated Nick looking at Xander, which grinned a little embarrassed at seeing Nick already expecing help from him.
"Well, I know the school very well, just I think I would be recognized by the other students and teachers 'cause they knew me very well from my…uh past mistakes," Xander mentioned making Nick nod.
"Marcela and I can help you out and dress you like a decent teenager. Or at least make-up you to look younger," Mentioned Claire. "Don or Ayesha would need to go with you as well, cause at least one of you has to be able to watch and notice changes in case something happens. The school of Riverview will also send their students up here to the prom, so there will be more foreign students, and a little difficult to recognize each other. But we will definitely give a disguise,"
"Good, good. Holly, tell us who of your school we should watch out for or who we could use to make our plan work," Nick asked watching Holly cross her arms unwilling to help him out. "Holly, I beg you, this is the last time I ask you for something. I promise you, I won't hurt anyone of your friends. It will all happen incognito. No one will interrupt your evening. It will be a simple prom night like the others. Please do your father this one last favor,"
Holly rolled her eyes, then opened the laptop of her father, which stood on the table to enter a school page upon visiting it, it listed down images of various school staff workers and showed it to her father. Nick used the pad to connect the computer to the projector, which displayed the image on the blank whiteboard.
"Alright, I see. Most of the teachers seem to be of experienced age. Those are the same teachers, that were around in your time, Xander?"
"Yes," Responded Xander. "The principal started around two years before I finished. He's now there for 6 years, I think,"
"Good, can you tell me anything special about the teachers here?" Questioned Nick making Xander nod.
"I don't have a lot to say. The principal unlike our last one is less strict, but somehow fair about things happening at the school. That's the one thing I can say. Mr. Weathers is the sports and music teacher. Mrs. Johnson is the drama and news site teacher and Mrs. Wainwright, Miss Goode, Mrs. Mae, , Mr. Parson, Miss Andrews, and Miss Da Costa are class teachers. They're all alike by teaching and education,"
"That's a good start. Have you got something to add?" Questioned Nick his daughter who searched for herself on the intranet, then opened the sheet of the class of herself to show the 10th graders of her school.
"These are the 10th graders and they're all going to attend the prom on that night. They're all slightly different from one to another…" Holly began explaining, afterward, Don slapped Xander on the back shrieking him.
"That's your twin!" Joked Don shrieking Xander, which almost lost his hat. "Same style of headwear,"
"I thought it was forbidden to wear hats during school, mostly school pictures," Commented Claire curious making Marcela nod.
"Variates on the teacher," Said Xander. "I think only Mr. McGee would call people out for wearing them. Funnily I know that guy from detention class and I also know the one on the last row named VJ Alvi from there as well,"
"Oh, what can you tell me about them?"
"Well VJ is a troublemaker and the so-called bad boy in the school. Oh and Parker Langerak happens to be the nephew of the principal. Obviously not the favorite, but still appreciated by the adult. Parker is a basic laid-back himbo with an average school grade and he often hangs around with the blonde boy there named Ethan Bunch. The school's popular boy," Xander explained making Nick nod, then looked at his daughter.
"Parker…he isn't per coincidence that boy you like from school?" Questioned Nick making Holly roll her eyes.
"Just because we're good friends, it doesn't mean we like each other. After all, he's not the kind of guy, that you would love to have around," Mentioned Holly making Nick tilt his head a little bewildered.
"Parker isn't such a bad guy. He just does stupid things,"
"I'm not referring to that. I'm referring to the fact, he's an aspiring ladies' man. He's basically the child-friendly version of Don!" Stated Holly stern making Xander snort.
"For real?" Questioned Xander with a smile, while Don was surprised about that knowledge.
"Well looks like we've got someone, who like both of us," Stated Don making Xander nod.
"Okay, let's move on…what about the boy there, Michael?" Questioned Nick.
"Striker," Added Xander.
"Friends with everyone and an aspiring sportsman," Spoke Holly. "Lisa Bunch is the younger sister of Ethan. During elementary school, she was highly talented and skipped one class to end up in the same grade as her brother. Upon befriending VJ, her life was turned upside down and she followed the bad path," Holly explained making Nick chuckle.
"I kinda like that," Confessed Nick. "What about the brunette girl there,"
"Am I seeing this right? Her name is River?" Questioned Marcela making Bert nod.
"I actually like the name," Confessed Claire.
"You're wondering why someone is named after water, but not why someone is named after a task?" Questioned Don making Xander tilt his head confused.
"The names are pretty normal. I'm more curious why the last name is McIrish. Sounds like a pun or a joke towards Irish people….. she's Irish, right?" Questioned Xander watching the gang shrug her shoulders, only Claire nodded.
"Her father was full-Irish, and her mother is half-Irish. This is why she's mainly mistaken as an American," Claire explained. "I knew her since she was a child. She's an average schoolgirl. She's quite skilled at painting and is a hard-working girl,"
"Anything else?" Questioned Nick looking at Holly, which pondered about what was missing.
"She goes once a month to the children's hospital. Is that any important?" Questioned Holly making Nick shake his head.
"Ok, I may have a thing to add. River is like a daughter to me and I would like when life it allows us to avoid seeing her there when we're performing our job. She's very dear to me and I don't want to lose our friendship because of this,"
"Sure, don't worry. We will make sure of that," Commented Nick and looked at the other class lists. "You don't have anything else to say about the other classes?"
"No, I don't know them enough," Responded Holly. "Can I go home now?"
"I just need to know, if there's a plan of how the school looks like from the inside," Commented Nick.
"That you find on the intranet as well,"
"What, they uploaded it there?" Questioned Nick surprised watching Holly frown at him buying that from her. "Nevermind, just get out of here. We'll get through it," Said Nick putting the intranet in the background, afterward Holly stepped away leaving the people without a word, but inside the room, the silence turned awkward for the teammates.
"Well, at least we know the principal has a relationship with one of the students. We have the chance to take advantage of it. If we know this boy has a weakness for girls, I for example would pretend to be a girl showing interest in him, then lead him away from the danger zone," Suggested Ayesha. "How high is the chance, that we would fall for the disguise?" Questioned the woman.
"I would say high if he's focused on your….feminine teenager-side…the disguise, I don't know, how to say this,"
"Don't worry, I will make sure he will treat any future girlfriend of his like a princess," Ayesha mentioned making Xander chuckle.
"Well, that would be something fun to see," Admitted Xander. "The part of the princess treatment,"
"Well, I made Don respect me and Marcela. The Langerak boy will be a child's play," Commented Ayesha, then watched Nick raise his arm ordering them to stop. "Excuse me, boss,"
"It's alright, that you already have something in mind for it. I've been thinking about, Xander and Ayesha will be our fake students for the said evening. For the moment the only thing they have to do now is work together. I want, that Xander has decent knowledge of self-defense and fighting. And when there are furnitures to pick up, take him with you instead. Claire can come with Don and Bert instead," Said Nick. "You two will come to the cellar's office and start digging. The Ingenieur I bribed will help me make a plan, which you two have to follow to get to school,"
"Yes," Responded Claire, with Bert nodding.
"Marcela, for now on you keep on doing what you're on it now. Any specific change or issue, notify me,"
"I will, sir," Responded the blonde, then Nick wrote down on the whiteboard, what he said for now.
"Oh talking about furnitures. Beforehand, a certain Molly Francis has given up an order to us, if somebody could come to Bridgeport and take her furnitures. She's moving to Sunset Valley. Ayesha, you could take Xander right now with you. You sure do have a driving license,"
"Yes I do," Responded Xander.
"Good and don't worry, the van we have works for the basic category," Mentioned Nick making Xander nod.
Later Xander picked the Ducato and drove across the center of Sunset Valley to make their way to Bridgeport. Xander didn't show to have any issues with guiding the rather large vehicle and followed the road to the redwood parkaway to leave the town.
"Do you all drive this as well?" Questioned Xander making Ayesha nod, which sat beside him by the window.
"Yes. We also use it to transport the score we made away. First, we use another vehicle and get rid of it, when we made it to a chosen hideout to switch. Sometimes we may have to deal with the police looking for us and we have to disappear from their sight,"
"Right. Have you guys ever been caught before?" Questioned Xander watching Ayesha shake her head.
"As long as I'm here, never. About three times I remember to have the police come after us. Mainly because we assaulted a high society building like a museum for example,"
"How long do you usually plan for a big heist?"
"It really depends on diverse reasons. If we can do it any time, if its on a specific day, has it guards or security around. We need to know the aspects first before we can move on with the plan. Some aspects Nick will look for, others he will comission us to solve it for him and report afterward," Ayesha answered. "He also plays in things logistics our boss as well. So if he tells you Mr. Clavell or so in Bridgeport needs somebody to bring away a closet we do that. Were inscribed as logistical employees. The crime part is a bonus. One with a good income. You sure will be !lucky with this shot here," Promised Ayesha making Xander smile.
"Man this sounds kind of crazy to believe,"
"That's what I thought first, but it turned out that it was true,"
"Great…..one question….how long have you been here? What made you join?"
"I don't remember where I'm from originally, but when I was a girl I had to run away with my family from home. During the run, I lost my parents and my older brother was the only one who was around me. We both tried to survive together by stealing food from people. One day we decided to look for a sea people were talking about, which would lead us to a place they called Europe. I had no idea, where that was but my brother and I have set in our heads together to leave together and go there. We managed to get on a boat with a couple of other families fleeing and as if it wasn't already bad enough for us, our boat had been hit by a wave of water as a storm came along. I have never seen my brother or most of the other people. I woke up one day inside of a clinic and I was sent to an orphanage. At that time I was in custody in an Egyptian orphanage and had a teacher come home to teach the orphans,"
"What happened afterward? How did you get here?"
"The orphanage kind of was too much for me back as a teenager. I sort of made myself a rebel back then and broke rules. I would be punished for it every time and it didn't really matter to me. About half a year later, I decided to leave and try to form a life of my own, but it wasn't an easy bite. I ended up giving up and tried to find a way to go to Europe and see which country could accept a refugee. I landed here in Texas and I met Nick, which helped me out and offered me a job here, allowing me to visit a night school. I didn't have a great time growing up, but I still got into somewhere and live out of dangers…..dangers of crimes against humanity I refer,"
"Where are you exactly from?"
"Originally I don't really know where I came from. I just know I have a Persian name and I had adopted back at the orphanage an Egyptian citizenship, "
"Okay, those are really a bad memories to remember," Confessed Xander making Ayesha smile. "I lost my mother to a heart attack about two weeks ago. On that night my father and I argued with each other because I was out of the house for a party"
"But aren't you living alone?"
"Before she passed away I did still live with them. After that happened the morale between me and my dad was strange. I asked my friend Tamara if I could stay with her until I found a new job and a new place to stay. This was the opportunity then which arose,"
"How was your mother like? Did you get along with her?"
"She was very loving towards me and my father. She always made us her priority no matter what. She helped us out a lot of times with daily issues, even though we handle them as well. She was very protective, mostly of me. She was like an angel to us," Xander remembered the best points of his mother. "I hope you're okay if I stop talking about this topic. I'm kind of beginning to tear up by accident,"
"You don't have to suppress this negative feeling. It's part of the healing process. If you have the need to cry just do it. I won't let anyone know it,"
"Thank you," Responded Xander cleaning one tear off his eye. "But I will see if I keep my eyes clean during the ride," Xander commented making Ayesha grin amused by his force to avoid crying.