Even hearing all that, I wish I could learn more, but unfortunately I doubt I will get more information here.
Although... he did say one thing I have to confirm just in case.
"Wait, you said that someone told you to not say a thing after you got your phone?"
"Yes, but what he said did make sense. I also was not too interested in pursuing what happened so I just let it go"
As expected, someone told him to, huh.
I could consider that he was really trying to stop him from trying to do a useless action since he had his stuff back. But I wonder... What if the same thing happened to other people? Someone close to them at their work advised them to keep it to themselves. I have no proves but that would fit the situation so far. This might be a reckless assumtion but I feel that there could be some truth in it. Just in case, I should ask around about it.
"Is there something else you wish to ask me?"
I wonder, I basically asked all I wanted to know. The question is if I have any other thing in mind.
So far I have been thinking by myself. Why don't I use this chance and ask for someone opinion on the matter? I could use another view on this. Although I am not sure who can I trust, it doesn't matter this time since I will use the response I get as a comparison only. I already have a good idea of the whole picture so I don't mind what kind of answer I get. But even if it is flawed, it could help me to think of something else.
"Hey, there is one last thing I have in mind. What do you think about this?"
"What do I think you said? Well, I really don't want to comment on something I don't know.
"Oh come one, just tell me. There is no one else here, only I. There has to be something you are thinking about this, it has happened a number of times after all"
"Hmmm, well..."
"I won't tell anyone"
"...Alright, you win. To be honest here, it's like something is going on. My case was rather unique I guess, since I did not mind it. But I once heard about a guy complaining about it and later he just did not mention anything else just like that"
"Oh, Is that so?"
"I found it slightly strange but I had chosen to mind my own business back then. Now, since you came asking about it, I have different thoughts. Although I can't tell what is happening, I find it suspicious how someone who was making such a racket but just stop complaining and act like nothing happened the next day. That was the only time I got to personally see someone in similar situation. I kept wondering until I thought how it could have something to do with a meeting the guy had the same day he stopped complaining"
Really, sometimes people think they said all they knew but they actually have more to tell. Good thing I asked, I would've lost this info... I asked about his opinion though.
"I think that it had to do with that, but I don't recognize that person as a guard. I never saw him so maybe he works on another department.
My honest thoughts about this is... that it might relate to the residents of the manor. It might sound crazy, but they are the only ones that could get involved with some many people. That is why I think that they have talked to all those people with that complained or those related to the theft. Maybe they want to keep the problem hidden?"
Well, he is probably right about the people in the manor being the ones solving those 'complains', but I am not sure about the rest.
Going with that flow, those people complaining were contacted somehow and the person responsible of that is the guy he saw.
There is an odd point though, just from what he is telling me... he did not get to meet that guy even though he was also a 'victim'. What is the difference? I thought that they just meet the guy but maybe there is another step before that. Now that I remember, he said just bought a new phone right? Then maybe, yeah, maybe they use the phone to contact them first? Is that why they did not came and talked to him? He did not care about the theft and just got a new phone.
What an amusing situation then, I wonder what kind of face they had when they found out the reason.
"That is a possibility... well, I think this is it. I won't bother you any longer. Thank you for the coffee"
"Ok? Let me take you to the door"
I won't get lost you know?.
"...Alright"
********************************************
After once again take a seat in the car I heard Miss Highlander finally asking me.
"Did you find something?"
Now then, how should I go answering here?. I actually found another suspicious point as I was walking out of the guard post to the vehicle. As I looked at Miss Highlander sitting there, I began wondering about how much these guards know. Would they really fail to find out about this person contacting the 'victims'? Putting aside whether or not he is the thief, he acts after the things got stolen so there is probably some sort of link.
I think I should go with the first thing he told me.
"He mentioned how he heard an advise from a senior and that's why he did not say anything about what happened"
"An advise from a senior? Hmmm, I guess that's a possibility. Nothing weird with that. I don't think we would get anything from that. Is there something else?"
"He did mention about how there is a rumor about the theft but nothing else"
"I see, not much different from what we know. Do you have our next destination in mind?"
Really suspicious, how much do they actually know.
I will have to pay attention to this as well.
Now then, destination? I should just follow the list order at the moment. I don't want to make them think I have people I am particularly interested in.
"How about we follow the list order? I am not familiar with this place so I can't tell what would be the best order to follow"
"If you don't mind then... I can help you with that. With my help we can chose the most optimal route to follow so we don't waste our time by going from one place to another when there is people nearby we could've gone to see first"
Oh, that is better I guess. If she chooses our route then they won't know who I wanted to talk with. Although it might ended up with me missing the person I want to meet today.
"That would be really helpful, I leave that to you then"
"Ok, I will do so"
With our new schedule now decided by Miss Highlander, there was no need to hesitate here anymore. Turning on the vehicle she started to drive to our next destination.
*******************************************
Going from one place to another takes some time, but this time the ride was not that long. I thought she would taking the way back to the manor or just take me to their HQ... if I can call the guards office like that. Instead, she took another branch path as soon as it appeared. This was a new road for me so I tried my best to memorize anything unique that helped me remember the right way in case I found myself around here on my own. I had my doubts where I was being taken to, but there is nothing I can do for now. So I kept quiet while I watched the trees go way... well, we were the ones doing the movement.
The uncomfortable situation and silence continued until I could see an end to the numerous trees surrounding the road. With that I was able to see what I think it's our next destination.... an two stories building with what it looks a big garage door and at some distance I building made of glass.
I see that we are going to a rather interesting place.
Of course, we did not go to the glass building but the two stories one. Although she did not park inside but nearby.
"This place is the Greenhouse, it was built under the order of the late Mr. Kingwood after he got interested in growing certain kind of flowers but was unable do so in the open garden. A number of the people on the list work withing the Greenhouse and the building you have in front of you, which is used to store the tools they use. I was the one of the few people who got to see the full list of people you were given so I am aware of the content like you do. Considering our previous location I decided to bring you to the closer place with a number of people of the list, although I can not guarantee that all of the victims who are suppose to work here are around since they could be on their rest hours"
That's a rather complete summary of what I wanted to ask, but I guess I won't have to then. A Greenhouse, I guess I kinda expected to see one but not here, I thought it would be closer to the manor.
"I see... I will be going on my own as well this time?"
"No, I will come with you, at least until I introduce you to the one managing this place. It would be hard for you walk around here if they happen to treat you as an intruder. Although guests can pretty much go to many of the facilities in this property, there are also places were they are not allowed to... at least not alone. You would not be treated kindly if you intruder upon them just like that. Don't worry about me jumping in your conversations though, I will still remain at a certain distance to let you do what you were asked to"
Another full answer... this lady seems pretty good at explaining things. That could be helpful for me if I asked her about something, but if someone asked her about me and she answered with such a drive then she will probably say everything she can too. If she is an observant individual then that would be really bad for me. I guess I can't lower my guard when talking to her or just talking near her.
"I see, then I will follow after you. If it is as you said there is no choice, I will do as you said. Is there anything else I should be aware about this place?"
"Well, as I recall telling you... there are some flowers that required this envoirement to grow. Even among them there are some you shouldn't be touching as you please. We also have a good number of poisonous plants as well so I recommend you don't go touching anything in order to avoid any accident"
What's that? Scary. If she had to warn me about then I doubt they your simple poisonous plants... they should be quite dangerous. I don't feel like going there but knowing my luck lately, I feel like I will have to spent some time in there whether I like it or not.
I will do my best to finish this as fast as possible.
"Eh... I see? Hmm, Are they that dangerous?"
"Don't worry, actually the most dangerous one are kept in a separate and smaller greenhouse behind the big one, but I don't think you will get to go there"
T-h-a-t p-h-r-a-s-e! I am now sure as heck I will have to go there and... you did not deny that there are dangerous plants inside the big greenhouse too. Ok, calm down. It will be alright.
"Eh... Ok. I will follow your lead so let's go"
I decided to urge her a little so we could go, if she kept talk I will surely lost my motivation to go.
Poison can be really scary because it has different a ways to affect you. If you are not careful you will pay it dearly. I recall I that one job I took when I started this line of work was about helping to find a certain low-life criminal with the police, the situation evolved from a simple job of finding a 'normal' person to catching the guy. As the investigation progressed I found myself working for with the police, but the guy had a terrible personality and to keep us in check he left a trap in one the hideouts when found. The result were terrible, a few people died poisoned while the rest ended up in the hospital, I was the less exposed to that certain poison so I did get to expend that much in there. Even when receiving treatment some of the police officers ended up permantly affected by the poison, you could say I was one of the lucky ones. The only good thing about it is that we caught the guy before he got to escape. My client ended up being someone the guy owned money, that was the reason why he looking for such a person. Well, both my client and the guy were sent behind the bar. The guy for the his crimes of killing people with his skill in using poison, and my client also had commited a number of crimes, but he was hiding from the police and this case guided the police officers to him. That was truly a dangerous job where luck played part in my safety, I learned to never underestimate poison as well.
*******************************************
Not much I can say about the manager, he was a young man who just took the position last week from what he said. Even Miss Highlander was unaware because she seemed surprised for a moment before quickly recovering after taking a look at me. She was reminded of my presence and tried to act like nothing happened. That was an interesting reaction I must say, for someone responsable of security to be unaware of this after a week. There is something wrong with their line of command, normally such a thing would be at least announced. I can't help but to wonder if situations like this are numerous.
We had to register by signing a book for people going in and out of the greenhouse. Apparently, everyone who came to this facilities had to leave their names signed, the same happened when going out. They only required our signature, names and the time. A rather simple process, which I thought they simplify by using modern technology.
I actually questioned this and the answer I got was that they do use more modern methods, but it mostly apply to their workers. Besides using the system where they have to register their entry and exit, they also have to use a book for leaving their signs. I was quite confused since it seemed inefficient but I was told that there was a reason for that. While writing your name in the book you had to be near a real person whom would be there to check the information written, that way no one but we slacking of by asking others to sign for them. Even with their other more modern and digital methods, there was a possibility to trick them. It seems this idea was thought by the young manager himself to avoid those slackers. I do not know what to say about all this, the fact that such an idea had to put into motion to fight against slacker had to be made up is rather strange by itself. At the end I could only nod in apparent understanding when the young manager asked if I understood his situation or why he did it. I guess he has it tough too.
One last thing I am thankful is that we received a special identification, it worked as a permission pass to allow us to walk around without arousing suspicious of our presence. Although I think it is more like telling others to not call the guards on us since with these identifications we will stand up whether we like it or not.
Finished with the process, I followed the lead of Miss Highlander until we were in front of the door of the bigger greenhouse.
Now we were here she turned to face me and said.
"The troublesome arrangements have been made, as long as we carry these no one will bother interrupting us unless we cause a scene
"I hope so, I don't feel very comfortable here so I would like to finish quickly"
The identifications in question are just a palm sized card with a simple design, the word 'Visitor' is highlighted. I also noticed something in one corner, it says 'Entry level: 2'. Not sure what it is for but since it says 2, then there is surely a level 1 somewhere. I think I should keep that in mind... also written in my notepad in case I forget. Behind the card there were a bunch of numbers I don't know the use but I guess it is to enumerate the card.
Now, with that in mind... I feel like the danger level of this place is higher than what I initially thought. At the beginning I thought that the security level was somewhat sloppy considering so many slackers, but just from these identifications alone I can tell they take this seriously. This is not some bio hazard laboratory, it is just a greenhouse. Those so called 'flowers' must be either really rare and expensive or really rare and dangerous. No matter what, I should finish my business quickly and ignore any distraction.