Hunt Down Rose

Chapter 2: Elimination (Part II)

With just a few hours left before the raid, I have to do everything in my power to make this face come to life with everything I have on this funeral chamber. But it would take a miracle to have it done in such a flawless state, that’s why I’ll have to use the darkness of the night to my advantage. Doing espionage is not something I’ve been taking as a hobby. It’s more like a death wish that keeps me sane throughout these years without even resenting that amount of pain I’ve felt and caused.

After an hour and a half, the mask is already done and the plasters are ready for application. The only thing I need now is the copy of the genuine person itself which is the janitor I’m about to mimic.

As I looked at the picture and the mirror, I started applying the mask on while placing some plasters and non-toxic glue to hold some pieces of flesh together to make some wrinkles. I also used some make-up to cover and even out the skin tone from face to neck.

I finally wore the usual uniform they have on the company with my wig in place, calling Carlos to check the progress of the floor plans.

“I already have my get-up in place. I’m waiting for the floor plans and the device you’ll be giving me if you would be so kind.”

“It’s not even 11 yet! You want to do this early? You might as well go in with most of the employees vigilant at this time of the night.”

“I’m not going in. I’ll be buying some stuff while waiting just in case I get hungry along the way.”

“In that case, there’s a 24 hour restaurant near the building. If I’m not mistaken its Deli Jane. Wait for me there at precisely 11:30.”

“I’ll be expecting you soon enough, don’t be late.” I ended the call and went on my way through a hidden passage somewhere within the crypt’s decorative walls leading me towards a water pipeline outside of the parking lot.

I wore a jacket having my knives and gun hidden on my side, walking towards a scooter that I haven’t used for quite some time. I parked that thing on a certain blind-spot within the CCTV’s field of vision just in case they’ll see me using it with any type of disguise.

As I rode my way through the highways with the silence of the passing night, it’s a good thing that there are few cars roaming around at a time like this. Due to the protocol created by the police, some vehicles are prohibited at a certain point; in short, curfew exists even in cars. I however am a law-abiding citizen, at least that’s what I want to think to myself but being a daredevil is more appealing and suitable to my personality rather than taking useless precautions. I started catching up some speed on this thing while avoiding any contact with traffic lights. I hate stopping at such things when you are in a rush to do something important.

With only an hour worth of traveling, I reached the so called restaurant that doesn’t seem to fit the way I had it envisioned.

“I thought it would be French. Guess I had the wrong idea.” I said to myself looking at the traditional Filipino hut with the outside of the walls enforced with bamboo strips giving it the oriental look.

Entering the place I was allured by the smell of broth and a mixture of bagoong in the vastness of the entire room. This is a 24 hour restaurant that delivers a lot of the usual Filipino food but the variety is enormous.

“Good evening sir! Would you like to take a seat?” A waitress asked me.

Superficially I’m in the mood to eat something so resisting is futile right now. Sitting on the nearest chair with a clear vision on the outside realm, I started setting my timer waiting for his arrival soon. He is not the type of fool that would make me wait not even a minute more. But with these circumstances, I’ll have to make an exception. In the meantime, I ordered a few bowls of their famous stew and rice cakes just to spend my time here for a while.

In just a matter of minutes, I finished half of my meal and he arrived just in time for me to continue eating. If it wasn’t for me introducing a copy of my I.D. he wouldn’t have recognized me from afar. It would be difficult to chase him down once he’s gotten himself into false thoughts on what’s happening.

As he entered the restaurant he sat in front of me “Eating has always been a vice of yours hasn’t it?”

Drinking a glass of calamansi juice, “Indeed I am… At least I’m not the gambling type frankly speaking.”

Then he pulled something out of his shoulder. At first, I thought it was the blueprints of the building floors, but it was something else.

“Another list? Do I look like a student to you?”

“Stop whining and start reading for starters.” He glared at me for some reason.

“Fine…” As I began to look at the files, it’s the list of the floors on the basement. The summary of our earlier discussion has been made into progress and the only thing that’s left now is to infiltrate the building itself.

“I’m done comparing the codes on each room with their respective number sequences, it won’t be hard to access them at will and I might be able to prolong the duration of the doors unlocking.”

“That’s splendid! Talk about my hands itching for action.”

Looking at his wristwatch, “You still have 35 minutes until midnight. You sure you want to start early?”

Returning the files to him, “Of course, is it impossible to test their so-called security services without someone to break them in right? Starting early is my own way of saying thank you.”

“Let’s go then, I have my van waiting near the parking lot from the left side of this place. I’ll be instructing you from there so pay attention to my words.” He replied as we both went out of the place.

Looking at the left side I can see a mini-van from afar, definitely near the stoplights. Since this is just a minor operation, it would be a problem if we brought a bigger van with less equipment. Given that the neighborhood has a hundred percent visibility within checkpoints on major routes, it could be a disaster once given the opportunity.

“So we’re here amigo.” He busted open his van’s back door and I saw multiple laptops and some phones are hanging on the wall. L.C.D. screens are also riveted on the interior layers of the backseat connected to the laptops.

“Quite a big deal for you to carry these things around on such a bothersome vehicle.”

“Stop complaining if I were you. We’re both lucky to have this van around without me pulling some strings downtown.” He suddenly threw a flash-drive at me.

“This is the device you want me to put in the main servers?”

“Yes”

“You better have the doors unlocked and the security cameras checked the minute I’m on my way down to the basement.”

He jumped on the backseat of the van and started opening his system monitors. “You better get started. I’ll be on my way in just a moment, though I won’t be able to control all surveillance cameras around so you better be careful.”

I grabbed the earpiece and a signal jammer provided by Carlos before I went inside the small alley leading towards the west entrance of the building. Wearing my gloves and the rest of my disguise, I’m well ready for action.

“If you have the tracking device on the earpiece, feel free to give me instructions when you are ready,” I said to him as I stood in front of the door.

After a few seconds, he spoke “I’m gonna access the door as soon as you plug the jammer.” I used my knife to open the control panels of the digital lock. I placed the USB type of port on an empty slot to allow the reboot process.

Later on, I heard a beep from the other side. Immediately I entered seeing the place in a mess with paper stacks around the room.

“Where am I?”

“Apparently it’s the disposal center. Everything that you see is a part of one big trashcan of documents being dumped down there. If I’m not wrong, there should be a chute upwards leading to the 3rd and 4th floors.”

“Now where is the server room?”

“Probably on the same floor you are at. It would be possible that you’ll encounter some people around the areas so act natural and do your job. You’re disguised is a contractual janitor after all so it’s easy to blend in.” He said to me as I kept on thinking where the hell on this floor am I supposed to start.

It’s true that the only way we are going to search the basement is by shutting down the security doors and look for the keycard around the area. However, due to the inaccessibility of the facilities, we have to attach this device so that manipulation wouldn’t be a problem. The cameras could also be a dimwitted trap as all would say; we better take every step with caution.

As I went outside the door only a few people are passing on the corridors with the atmosphere of tiredness entering their heads, called almost in the middle of the night to check the place. Me on the other hand, I’m having a hard time carrying this empty bucket and a piece of cloth that I’ve scavenged on the disposal area. I’ve subjected myself to cleaning certain parts of the windows, gradually making my way towards the server room which is located 4 rooms away from me. The gap of each room is divided into an estimated distance of 4 meters, while each room acts as a meeting hall or audiovisual room to most associates.

After a few minutes of cleaning up, “I’m already in front of the room. It would be best to do your magic right now.” I replied to him on my earpiece looking at the locked door with a red light on the doorknob.

I opened the panel once again and plugged the jammer using the USB port. Opening the door, I hurriedly returned the panel to its original state and went inside.