Monica dropped her gold medal into the dustbin and continued knotting a dress she had been working on for days. Daniels barged into her room, ready to go to school. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Monica in her sleepwear, not ready for school in any way.
"Are you skipping classes today?" Daniel asked, adjusting his schoolbag on his back.
"Does that mean I'll have the G-Wagon to myself?" he added, excitement in his voice.
"Alexander took away the keys... and we're in trouble," Monica said, continuing to knit.
Suddenly, their mother's voice called out, especially loud and angry.
"What did you do?" Daniel asked. Monica lazily got off the bed, knowing exactly why her mother was screaming.
Meanwhile, on a television screen in the AID company offices, news broadcasts covered the city's recent murders and other crimes.
"Meanwhile, investigators are probing the quiet disappearance of several restricted propulsion-grade compounds from a licensed aerospace supplier on the outskirts of the city," the news anchor said. "The materials are heavily regulated and typically reserved for advanced engineering applications. Officials confirm there were no signs of forced entry. Security experts now believe the individual responsible had intimate knowledge of the facility's internal systems."
"You don't hear that every day," Simon said, walking toward Natasha's cubicle with a file in hand. Natasha looked up from her computer.
"This is the report Robert got me from his hunt. The last time Vivian saw that gun was when Paige attempted to kill Jonas, and she didn't see where it went because she didn't care by then," Simon explained, dropping the report on Natasha's desk and partially seating himself beside her.
"So we're back to square one. Jonas has fallen off the face of the earth. Is Robert sure Vivian was telling the truth? That woman is so cunning," Natasha said, scanning the report.
"I'm sure Robert won't report lies, even from people…" Simon said, standing up straight.
"Now, I have a new assignment for you... It's reported that the detective working on the serial killer case…" Simon began, but Natasha interrupted.
"The vigilante killer," she said proudly, a smile stretching across her lips.
"Whatever. Detective Wayne is missing. We know he's six feet under. And I remember he was the most corrupt detective alive. If he was serious about that case, it was probably because he wanted to get rid of the vigilante first. So your assignment: go undercover in the Elder Casino and scout out our killer," Simon said.
"What makes you think he'll be there?" Natasha asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Because the Elder Casino is swarming with corruption, crime, and danger, and that, my friend, attracts the vigilante," Simon finished. Natasha smirked.
Meanwhile, Vicky prepared to go to work. Emily was already at school, while Evan was going to start classes late that day.
"Did you see my earring? Maybe it's in your blankets," Vicky asked, holding one ear as she searched under the bed and on the vanity table.
"In my room?" Evan asked, confused.
"Yes. I don't know where it fell off. I didn't even realize it until now… Dad gave them to me," she said, stressed.
"Yeah, for you to wear on your wedding day," Evan teased. The day their father gave the earrings to Vicky, he had said she should wear them until the day she got married.
"Even so… if you find it, just leave it on my desk. I'm running late," she said, leaving the room. Searching for the earring had taken most of her time.
A few minutes later, Evan called for her from the living room.
"I'm leaving," she replied. "Please pick up Emily from school; I might be at the orphanage by then," she said, finishing packing her handbag.
"Cool. Let me come too," Evan said.
Vicky walked to work. Sarge Eatery was some distance from her home. She yawned sleepily but forced herself to continue. Suddenly, a Range Rover sped by on the road beside her, splashing mud onto her.
She cursed. She had already gotten a little wet and muddy this morning because it was a gravel road and one of the busiest routes to the city center.
Alexander could see the distress of the lady he had splashed through his rearview mirror, and he didn't want yesterday's incident to repeat. He pulled over a short distance away, got out of the car, and ran to the squatting woman, who was facing away and wiping mud off herself.
"Are you alright, ma'am?" Alexander asked, concerned, but Vicky didn't answer. She bent to pick up her handbag and some coins that had fallen. Alexander realized she hadn't heard him and knelt down beside her to help.
"I'm so sorry, ma'am… Honestly, I'm in a hurry. I need to be at work in ten minutes," he said, glancing at his expensive watch.
"I'm sorry," he said nervously.
Vicky recognized the voice and turned, her jaw dropping. It was that rude man again. Alexander was also shocked to see her.
"You're always in a hurry, Mr. Late. So I suggest you leave now, before your millions disappear," Vicky said, expression stoic.
Alexander couldn't believe his eyes. "Are you serious? Must I see you every morning?" he snapped. Ever since he accepted that damned marriage arrangement, he had been running into this woman, who always seemed to ruin his days.
Vicky finished gathering her things and walked away. She didn't have the energy to fight this morning. She was tired.
"Are you a monitoring spirit? Because you're doing annoyingly well at your job," Alexander snapped.
Vicky halted in her tracks, turned, and scoffed. "If I am, then what makes you my master?" she said, grinning as she walked away.
Anger flared in Alexander. "Just when the devil couldn't get me, he sends a devastatingly beautiful lady to ruin my day. She is pride incarnate, and I will break it," he muttered, getting back in his car and driving off.
Elsewhere, across town in a secluded area, a man begged for his life. His face was bruised and swollen, and his hands were tied behind his back.
"Please, sir, I don't know anything," he gasped, blood trickling from his lips.
"I know," Xavier said with an evil grin. "I'm just enjoying this."
Xavier's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID. "Oh, this is important," he said, answering the call. "Get the bag," he ordered his men. They put the victim into a plastic bag and suffocated him to death while Xavier continued talking on the phone.
"I believe you have good news," he said into the phone.
"Not really… the picture you sent. It doesn't match any data on Earth; I've scoured everywhere," the caller replied.
"You mean Blue isn't in any database, that she just appeared from nowhere and was like, 'Oh yeah, seems like a good day; let me go kill Xavier'?" Xavier mocked.
"Yes, mostly," the caller said. "But she looks exactly like Paige Samuels."
"Who's Paige Samuels?" Xavier asked.
"Paige is a known spy and AID agent… she's exactly like Blue, except for their eye colors. Paige's eyes were dark brown, while Blue's are, well, blue," the caller explained.
"A spy… so she's Paige in blue contact lenses?" Xavier said, putting it together.
"Probably, but Paige died five years ago in a car explosion. Only the driver survived," the caller said, shattering all of Xavier's suspicions.
"No one survived?" Xavier asked, shocked.
"The driver barely made it. I've checked everywhere. The explosion was brutal and gruesome…" the caller trailed off.