"Yes!" Enthused Ken when she won her team.
They are now playing beach volleyball at The Royal Beach which Andy booked with the tourists on such a vacation. The sun reaches it peak and tans their skins. Underneath is the washing of waves plunges to the shoreline. Other tourists are enjoying the sun's kiss of light on their bikinis and sunglasses.
One month ago, the clique had received their degrees so they thought of unwinding to get away from the mess happened in the office of Judge Pacto one week before their graduation day.
When they turn the hidden spy camera ballpoint pen.
"This is ---"
"Arson." They said in unison.
They took the ballpoint pen and stopped recording. They searched for the important documents they could get. They later heard the siren of the police car and ambulance car so they quickly took the evidence along with the judge's cellphone.
Jim broke the computer after copying all the information.
"Someone called us because Judge Pacto sent us here to talk ---" Before Ken could finish what she was going to say, Greg pinched the girl's arm lightly in unnoticed manner.
"The Judge is just going to ask us something about the crimes that we solved before." Jim answers Detective Gomez's question what they're doing here.
"Are you sure that's how you got to the scene?"
"Detective, do we look like suspects?" Aris answered sarcastically, "We're sure it's an arson but we don't have a lead."
"We got this case, Little Detectives." Detective Eletera pleaded, "Leave this investigation to us. We'll not publicize this."
"Do as you wish, 'Detectives'." Aris's grinning, quoting the last noun.
Andy pinched her, smoothly asking why she said that. Aris just simply whispered, "Relax, babe. We've got everything we need."
After they talked to Detective Gomez and Detective Eletera, they gathered around in their car.
"Burn, let's do this."
"Finally, we can relax freely!" Aris sighed as she lay down on their picnic blanket. All ready on her swim wear and sunglasses with some special purposes, "Maybe no murder will happen here. Hopefully."
Jim, on the other hand, was quietly reading the borrowed book, investigating even on her swim wear. Greg, as usual on her laptop searching. Ken, Andy and Li playing volleyball with some random tourists in the resort. They jumped after winning.
"Hey guys!" Li greeted as she drank her lemonade, "What are you doing, Greg? Jim?" She asked angrily, "We're here to enjoy ---"
"To chill out and relax. Yeah, yeah I know." Jim finished her sentence, "Reading book is my relaxation." She said without looking.
She's on the climax of the story decoding something that might help them uncover new clues.
"So, there's this guy I met when I ordered another drink." Ken smiled, "Hot and gorgeous. By the way, Jim, Chace is here."
"WHAT ?!" Her friends were even more surprised by the news than her.
"I know."
"You know but don't you seem affected?"
"That is because I'm not really affected."
"Good thing then. We'll ask him to treat us, let's go, Andy!" Li's voice was excited. She even hopped away.
"And how did you know he's here?" Aris asked Jim curiously after the three left.
Jim put down the book and looked at Aris, "That's why I don't want to come with you because he's here."
"Aren't you still able to move on with him?"
"I can't bare to see him hurt when I'm with him or even talk to him. I don't want him to get involve."
"Why don't you just tell him the real reason why we continue to be Detectives?"
"For what? I'm sure he'll use all his connections to the world." She smirked, "I know him very well, Aurosia. Please, let's not talk about him." She stood up and approached Greg, "Just let it be."
"You two are insatiable in so many things." Their friend commented, "It's hard for you to convince."
"Anyways, this book 'Solicity' is strange." Jim ignored her friend's comment, "I don't think it's just a novel but something's on it."
"And what would that be, huh?" Aris asked defiantly, looking left to right with her sunglasses, "Greg, can you look what I see? Record it."
The sunglasses she wears has system to record everything she sees. It's a device they use for spying without being suspicious. Greg typed on her laptop and a video viewing man and two others, a woman and a man. They're talking like negotiating something by the way they shake hands. As Greg stares more closely at the scene, she finds it suspicious.
"It's like they're doing illegal dealings." She murmured.
"I knew it." Said Aris, "It's not illegal drugs, though."
"But why there's money?" Jim asked curiously as she looked at the screen, closely and keenly, "I think it's a.. .Rewind Greg about 3 seconds backward.. .Stop stop." She pointed the screen as Greg zoomed in the picture, "There. Black chip with the A symbol."
"A as in Amaphe?" Aris interpreted just to make sure, "Don't tell me we're going to investigate here? Really? On our vacation?" She was now frustrated.
"Aris for now, we cannot use bikinis that could show our scar." Good thing they wear robes to avoid revealing their scar.
"So what's the plan, Jamie?" Greg asked.
Jim shook her head as she followed the woman who received the black chip. Wondering what to do.
"Send that video to Burn, we'll identify it. ASAP." He ordered Greg, "I'll take care of investigating the black chip later. Just be my back-up, guys. It looks like they are VIPs."
"What are you planning to investigate, Miranda Jamie Feliz Evangelista huh?" Asked Aris hands on her waist.
"Remember, I said 'Solicity' is weird? It's about something to do with Amaphe and Blackchip operation, Black Dragon Empire is involved too. The writer used a lot of metaphors and idiomatic phrases and I had it deciphered."
"Blackchip Operation? Black Dragon Empire? What are you talking about Jim?" Her friend scratched her head out of confusion.
"Yes. I heard about them before. Their operation is very secretive, even CIA and FBI don't know about them but according to my source, they're involved in assassination and smuggling, business influencer. The Black Dragon Empire is a branch of Amaphe. It's hard to find its members because they don't have a symbol on the body. Each member is monitored, one mistake and you will die on the spot."
"Oh scary, baby."
Jim almost fainted from the shock of Chace's voice that was quite close to her ear. She was on his arms preventing her from falling. She winced at the sensation she was feeling.
"Let me go!" She yelled at the young man and pushed his firm arms. It's obvious he's maintaining exercise to stay fit and muscled.
"Uuuuyy." Teased by her two friends who had just arrived and were carrying chips and drinks-in-cans.
"Whatever, guys! What are you doing here?" She asked the young man. She's irritated.
"I have a date."
"I mean here !?" Pointing down, "In our place."
"Jim, don't drive Christian away, he's a good man." Li defended while chewing chips, "He's bought us foods."
"All right, girls order all you want. It's on me."
Friends led the race except Jim after Chace handed over his black card. Jim sighed, deeply out of annoyance.
"We're alone now, you can say that you still want me in your life." He showed his devilish smile.
"Go to your date." She pushed Chace away and put her attention to the laptop to avoid feeling heavily. "Burn." She answered the video call, "Updates?"
"You're right, babe. They're doing Blackchip Operation. This is A branch but the boss is different. I don't have a source who. The black chip is something a key of something operation."
"What is some--"
"Who are you and why are you calling her babe?" Chace's eyes glazed over at the screen as he asked Burn, "And what is this all about?"
"Burn, call you later."
"Okay I'll just send you the other information later."
Jim just nodded then closed the laptop. She's angry at Chace right now. Angry not because he interferes but knows one of the things she is doing and now he has even discovered that they are on vacation. She doesn't want Chace to know how dangerous their work as secret detectives. Now that the public knows their identification the chances of the syndicates finding them are even higher. And worst, those close to them will be given priority as target. Chace has a big part of her life and one of her weaknesses.
"Will you please go away, Christian." Jim's cold repulsion. Her heart felt heavy but she has to for their own good.
"Who is that man?" He asked coldly. She knew he was jealous.
"Did you hear what we were talking about?"
"Who is he in your life? Why is he calling you babe?"
"Why do you care about my life?"
"Is he the one you chose than me?"
"What?" Jim was shocked because she didn't expect his question.
"Is he your boyfriend? What's his job? Is he caring? Does he treat you well? Does he love you like how much I love you? Huh? Tell me, Jamie, what did he do that I haven ' t done to you? Where do I lack-- "
"Chace, are you jealous?" Even though it was obvious she was still asking. She wanted him to hear from his own lips.
"Isn't it obvious?" Chace answered her, seriously, she's surprised at how straightforward he is now, maybe he's telling the truth, "Jim, I still love you and always will. I want you back to my life. I don't know what's the reason we broke up. It doesn't 't matter how, though. Please. " When Jim didn't say a word, he continued, "Is it about Tina? You're not like that. You know me."
Jim just closed her eyes to calm herself. It was just the timing because Tina was very close to Chace when they were still together and that was the right time for her to think of breaking up with him. She has confidence in Chace that he would not cheat on her even though many have told her that the man is a playboy. He is 7 years older than them.
She knows he loved her.
She knows he loves her and still loves her.
She held back the tears that had earlier wanted to escape from her eyes, "Please, stay away from me, Chace. No matter what, don't go near me and don't look for me. Please, that's all I want you to do. Find a woman that fits you. I am nothing compared to your level of maturity. "
She left Chace dumbfounded to ventilate by the sea.
Greg walked ALONE to look for a public comfort room because her stomach has been telling her to dispose some wastes. Their suite is meters away.
"They're here at The Royal Beach now, you're right, sir.... .What are we going to do with them?.... .... " She covered her mouth to stay quiet of what she heard from the adjacent cubicle ".... .and it looks like Captain Sarmiento of Team Delta is also involved.... .I'm not sure but he seems to be close to Evangelis--" The conversation was stopped when her cellphone rang.
Oh shit! She exclaimed at the back of her mind.
"Who's there?" The person in the other cubicle asked, "Alert, sir. Eavesdropping."
Greg quickly adjusted her pants then got out of the cubicle. Before she could reach the door someone pulled her hair. She did not expect what she saw, a man dressed as a woman.
"Ayt, Mesh biyutipul, you forgot to flush away your. . .you know. And why are you here pooping?" It pointed to the door with the male gender sticker.
Greg calmed herself first to avoid obviousness and then they heard someone went out of the cubicle. A man wearing all black. He walked passed them.
Greg followed the man thinking this was the owner of the voice. She left immediately when the man disappeared from her sight. She was flabbergasted when she could no longer see it.
"Who are you looking for, Miss?"
"Nothing." Greg's stern answer.
She left the gay as she seemed to care about it. She hurriedly walked back to their suite as she even rode a golf cart to the lifeguards to deliver the news.
"Girls, we were spotted here."
"Really?" Kelly suddenly gasped, "Oh my gosh, you're in danger, then girls."
"KELLY ?!" They reacted in unison, surprised by the sudden interruption of their ghost friend.
"Miss me?" She grinned, widely.
"Where have you been?"
"Somewhere." She looked around, "Where are the others? Jim? Li? Aris?"
"Oh shet !!" Greg exclaimed as if she had seen a ghost. She opened the laptop and contacted Burn. "Burn, track Li, Aris and Jim send it to me and stay connected. ASAP." She commanded.
"W-Why, Greg?" Surprised and worried Andy asked, "Greg!"
"Do you remember our secret about them? They can't disappear from our sight. We're spotted here by our enemies. We have to protect each other."
"So there is a possibility that Aris, Li and Jim will be tracked down by our target syndicates." Ken finished fishing out her phone and dialed a number.
"Who are you calling?" Andy asked.
"Chace."
"Ken!"
"We don't have a choice, do we? He has a bodyguard. And I know he would do anything for Jim with his power."
Whoever is more reliable that they can contact anytime is none other than Chace. Like what she said, he would do anything for his beloved. Since the two split up, his exposure of his desire to win back their friend's heart has become more aggressive.
They were distracted when the laptop rang. A sound of their secret conversation.
"Jim's tracker is not moving. Aris and Li are at the store." Burn's news, "Weird, Jim's tracker device, at the middle of the sea?"
At once they turned to the ocean. Kids and some people are enjoying under the rays of the sun. They are looking for Jim. She's not there.
"Uhmmm guys?" Kelly calls, "Is that Jim?" Simultaneously the three turned in the direction Kelly had pointed.
"Shit!" Andy immediately run over there. Ken followed too.
"But wait. . .who's with her?" Kelly asked Greg who was left behind.
Greg just shrugged. She watched her friends run to the sea where Jim was supported by a man on a Yacht. Even though it was a bit far in the middle of the sea, they were sure it was Jim because she was wearing a beach dress in red and abstract print. Greg used the binoculars to see clearly who the man was with her and who were on the yacht.
"Chace? And some soldiers?" Greg asked himself. Using the walkie-talkie he called the four, "Retreat, guys. She's safe. Chace's a captain.
"What do you mean?" Andy answered the question.
"That's Chace and his team. Remember what I told you from what I heard?"
"Wow!" Aris's only reaction. Her concern was replaced by amazement.
"What are they going to talk about?" Greg asked as she watched the scene then the four returned, "Are they planning to get back together? Hmm."
The clique laughed.
"CHACE, what's with all this? What information?" Jim asked annoyed after they went inside.
Chace turned to the bar table to get a bottle of wine, "1821. This must be classic."
Jim groaned impatiently as the young man avoided her questions. If it weren't for the fact that he said he had information about Amaphe, she wouldn't have come here, she would have ruined Chace even more. She looked at his portrait on the wall next to the landscape picture of the two of them in the pool area when Chace won the gold medal. She closed her eyes reliving their memories that time.
"What's the problem, baby?" Chace asked without looking at her because he was busy making their snack from the snack bar.
"Why haven't you thrown away our picture yet?" Jim asked bitterly. She had to stand firm so that the man would stay away from her for his safety.
"I don't like throwing golds." He smiled and laid down a solo pack of ice cream in front her. He knows she likes ice cream.
"Golds?"
"Treasures, precious. And baby, those pictures are treasures and precious to me."
"Stop calling me ba--"
"Baby? Jim, you're always be my baby." Its serious answer and looking directly into her eyes make her soul melt.
Please stop it, Chace. I can't take this anymore. She whispered at the back of her head. Don't make me come back to you.
She clears her throat and said, "So, the information, Mr. Sarmiento.?"
"Okay, okay, okay." Hands-up, Chace replied, "First, eat these. You're losing weight."
"You don't care about that."
"Eat." He commands in a bossy way then leaves the bar table, "Rhum!"
Just one call from him, a man in an Air Force uniform approached.
"Sir?"
"Look up the blackbag, inside there's a blue folder written Alpha Mic Alpha Papa Hotel Echo, bring it here."
"Copy, Charlie." The guy ran to the top.
"Why is he calling you 'Charlie'?" Curiousity possessed Jim's mind while enjoying her ice cream and some crackers.
"C."
"Means?"
"Captain."
"Captain of what?"
"Team Delta."
Jim laughed at what he said. How did Chace become Captain of the Air Force at such a young age? She didn't even see him in uniform. She also did not hear of him entering the PMA or training.
"How?"
"I excel in a lot of things and you know that Jim. I've been schooling in PMA for 8 years without vacation."
"Why don't I know?"
"Because I don't want you to know. My grandparents are both retired commission officers so I got in easily and gained high ranks." His serious answer was, "Any questions?"
Before Jim asked again, the 'Rhum' with the last name 'Herrare' arrived, the rank is private. He reached for the blue folder he had ordered earlier labeled 'Alpha Mic Alpha Papa Hotel Echo'.
"Not all their information is there. I just hope it will help you."
"I thought you didn't want me to continue our mission about Amaphe, why change of mind?"
"I need your help."
"It's not your job."
"My parents were involved when I discovered their past. They were murdered but they disappeared with no traces." Chace's sad story, "And at least I can find them even if it's just their bones."
"I thought--"
"They faked their death. Grandpa and Grandma don't want me to expect them to come back. I now know everything and they don't know that I know."
"Chace...." Only Jim could say. She felt guilt.
"Like you said, it's not my job so I gave you the information. Police are lame workers."
She didn't know how to comfort the vulnerable side of him now so she just nodded. In the course of their relationship only now does she know everything about Chace's life, what he have been going through.
"You can go when you're finish with the snacks." He left in front of her after saying that and entered a room.
"Just tell me, Ma'am when you're coming back to your suite." Reminded of the man who brought her here.
She just stared at the ice cream while playing with it.
"WHAT IS THIS?" Greg asked as Jim put down the blue folder.
"Read."
"Alpha Mic Alpha Papa Hotel Echo?"
"Military alphabet." Li added.
They are crowding Greg and Ken's room for a meeting when Jim calls.
"Chace gave it to us. It's not his job and he believed that police department won't work on this."
"Why does he have info about A?" Asked Ken.
"Confidential."
"I have no comment there." Aris said.
"Anyways, let's start investigating that."
"Give it to Burn." Li said hesitantly avoiding the eye contacts of friends.
"What is this? We're here to enjoy and then we'll investigate?" Andy blurted out.
"Okay later there will be an event, I think bonfire party, for now let's enjoy first. Let's just finish it now." Jim smiled at them, "I'll be spying later while partying." She breathed out heavily, "With Gomez, aka Atty. Detective Alexis."
"WHAAAAT? !!!" Her friends reacted at once.
"From now on, he will be our personal lawyer and protector." She delivered her shocking news, coldly.
"Lawyer ?!" Reacted Aris, confused. The man they both fancied at the store is now going to join their company.
Jim just shrugged and they both turned to the doorbell. Ken approached the peephole to find out who it was before opening the door.
"Ladies?"
"Detective Gomez?" The five said.
"Just Alexis."
"What are you doing here?" Aris asked.
He raised his eyebrows to Jim, "Didn't Jim. . .?"
"I mean here in our suite?"
Jim stood between the two of them. She explained how did all these happen.
"Your parents' case is open again. Daylan Iskilovishka was found dead and the international investigation affairs found the encrypted files inside his stomach after we conducted autopsy."
"Daylan?" Greg asked as if it rings the bell in her mind, "You know Magiee Shrirovski?"
The Lawyer-Detective nodded, "She recommends me at our headquarters to investigate you and ask you for information about what you know. She chose me because she trusted me the--"
"Wait, rewind..." Ken interrupted, "So you're saying all the information we know or any investigation we're doing we'll give you? For what? For you to work? NO WAY !! Eight years ago, you still close unsolved. .You can't-- "
"Let me finish, Miss Bernardo."
"What do you mean by that? Please be clear, Alexis." Greg.
"I'm here to protect and help you." He said, "Magiee is just saying that at our headquarters to make the process legal. I know you hate the NBI process. I know you reinvestigated the murder case of Kelly Santiago."
Kelly gasped, shockingly. The six did not mind the ghost's reaction.
"I was a classmate of Magiee on CIA training days, so we met." He explained further until past 9. Greg and Ken listened without interfering with the Attorney's words anymore, "So, Greg, Jim, girls what's the plan?"
Andy provided information about their parents that was saved on their flashdrive. They also sent the encrypted files to Burn to hack it.
"Give me 1 week." Said Burn.
"Rest first, save energy later." Suggested Alexis.
Shaking her head, Greg went to the kitchen to get a snack, and Jim and Li followed her.
"What's this all about, Jim? You didn't tell us beforehand? I thought we wouldn't trust anyone but ourselves?" She greeted her with a whispered word but she could feel the annoyance in her voice.
"I also didn't know that suddenly someone called the emergency call and Miss Magiee talked to me."
"When?"
"Just earlier." She sat down at the dining table to discuss their plans.
"I forgot to tell you earlier since you weren't there... That I heard something in the other cubicle, when I was about to. .you know at the public CR. It looks like someone is spying on us. He knows Chace." Greg's story.
"Huh?" Jim asked in surprise.
"I got the wrong door. I didn't realize it for male room I entered. Duuh."
"Do you remember his face?" Asked Jim.
"I didn't stare too much because a man dressed as a woman talked to me. I got distracted."
"Then, we need to be vigilant." Jim reacted.
Jim and Aris went to the bonfire party at the same time since they were excited about such things. Their communication devices are attached to their ears. Aris wore a one-piece swimsuit that she paired with shorts and a gladiator, along with Jim who also wore a one-piece swimsuit and clothes with her newly bought Terra and Agua slippers.
As usual, she brought with her the book she had been reading their whole vacay days.
Li was at the bar counter talking to Burn about the documents they were investigating.
"Guys, let's be aware while partying." Aris was excited to announce to everyone through their device. Her body is in sync already with the music.
Detective Gomez is only on the parameter where he can only enough to watch the girls. He smiled when he watched Aris dancing as if he didn't care about the danger that was always around them.
The music's loud and lively. Crowd's enjoying the moment. They can hardly hear each other every time they talk, they still have to shout in their ears. Jim and Aris looked at the screaming women and Jim growled as she heard the name being squealed.
"Uhm-Jim, I might have to take my leave, now." Grinned Aris shouting at her ear and gesturing to leave.
Jim didn't have to look back instead she stepped towards the punch buffet table, pretending she didn't care about him.
"Is it my fault if I'm handsome?"
She rolled her eyes, "I don't care."
"Oh c'mon, baby."
"Eow, Chace don't call me that."
"Jaime." Suddenly his voice was serious which caused Jim to look back.
They stared at each other for a minute. She can see his eyes that he's been longing for her. It tells everything he can't express.
"What do you not understand--"
She couldn't finish what she was about to say when Chace suddenly pulled her head and kissed her. Jim couldn't move at what he did. She did not expect it. He's holding her tight and she doesn't have the strength to push Chace. She could feel her heart beating faster. Her knees softened and at any moment she would fall to the ground but the young man was ready to catch her. She just grabbed Chace's shirt, she's about to give in when a sudden unexpected moment happened.
Loud sound of a bomb ruined everything.
Their lips parted, "What's that?" Jim licked her lips.
The crowd went chaotic, then.