Trisha stood by the window, casually sipping her coffee as she observed the workers moving about the site. The vantage point offered her a clear view of their activities, allowing her to witness firsthand the rhythm and dedication with which they carried out their tasks.
Leaning against the window sill, Trisha requested, "Hey, Jazlyn, are you getting all the documents ready for me?"
Jazlyn paused from her work, offering a friendly smile. "Absolutely, I've got the paperwork ready. Give me a moment."
A few moments later, she sauntered over Trisha's desk, casually holding a bunch of documents in her hands. lashing a laid-back grin, she handed them and said, "Here you go, Miss Lockhart. The whole paper trails."
Trisha looked at the stack in disbelief. "What's all this?"
Jazlyn shrugged with a nonchalant grin, "Just the records – the who's, what's, and where's. Everything you need to dive into the project."
Still looking in disbelief, Trisha raised an eyebrow and asked, "I'm sorry. Don't you have an electronic database for all this? You know, some graphs, chart or numbers. I just don't know how to figure out all these paperworks of the project."
Jazlyn chuckled, "Well, we're kind of in the process of digitalization. But sometimes, nothing beats the good old hard copies, you know? Plus, it gives you something to flip through during those 'exciting' meetings."
Maintaining her disbelief, Trisha raised another eyebrow and asked, "What about the Personnel files? Are those in this stack too?"
"Oh, my bad! Sure, I'll grab those for you. Hang on, Miss Lockhart." She casually strolled back to her desk, ready to fetch the additional files.
Trisha sifted through the paperworks and grumbled to herself, "Oh dear, this is the first time I've ever seen files in such disarray." Her eyebrows furrowed in slight frustration.
Jazlyn returned, casually handing over the Personnel files to Trisha with a smirk. "Here you go, Miss Lockhart. Hope this adds some fun to your day." She winked playfully as she delivered the files, maintaining her laid-back manner.
"Thanks." Trisha received the documents. After a quick scan of the not-so-lengthy report, she probed, "Jazlyn, are there any more Personnel files?"
Jazlyn shook her head casually. "Nah, that's all of them. We keep it lean and mean around here."
"Why so few? Is our team really that small?"
"Well, you see, the mice decided to take up the document. They gnawed on the rest of them. Quite the discerning taste, those little guys." Jazlyn chuckled, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"No way! Are you kidding me?" Trisha exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"Nope, not kidding. We've got a bit of mice issue."
"Then, how am I supposed to know who I work with?"
"You know what, Miss Lockhart? All of our guys are good."
"How do you expect me to update the headquarters? Should I just tell them that things on the Azure Bay project are smooth sailing, and our crew here seems to be doing just fine?" Trisha questioned with a raised eyebrow and frustrated gesture.
"Well, something like that," Jazlyn replied with a casual shrug.
Trisha sank into her chair, a sense of helplessness washing over her. With a heavy sigh, she remarked, "Oh no, no, please. It's not the kind of crew update I was expecting." She threw her hands up and covered her face in frustration.
"Miss Lockhart, are you feeling sick? Need some water or something?"
Trisha waved off the offer with a weak smile, "No, thanks. I'm good. Just trying to process the 'document mishap' by our little office mice."
"All right, Miss Lockhart. Is there anything else you need?"
"No, thanks. But I do need to get in touch with Dashiell but there's no connection here."
"Well, walkie-talkie is the only thing that seems to work like a charm without any problem around here. Never fails, unlike the rest of our tech."
Trisha eyed the walkie-talkie with curiosity and then turned to Jazlyn, asking, "How do I use this thing?"
Holding out the device, Jazlyn replied, "Piece of cake. Just press this button here and hold it while you speak. Release when you're done. Simple as that. Oh, and remember to listen for a response. We keep it breezy around here."
She handed the walkie-talkie to Trisha and continued, "And for a bit of flair, we've got specific terms for the channels. Channel 1 is Jer-Bear, Channel 2 is reserved for Dashiell and the other ones are the experts. Just tune in, press, talk, and you're good to go."
"Okay, thank you. I got it!"
***
Meanwhile, in the headquarter...
Damon was engrossed in his work when his cellphone rang unexpectedly. It was the call from Azure Bay Island.
Glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, he answered the call with caution. His focused expression shifted into one of curious as he listened attentively to the mysterious person on the other end, realizing that this unexpected interruption was about to lead him into uncharted territory.
In a remote spot like Azure Bay Island, where phone signals played hide and seek, they'd likely rely on alternative means of communication. While walkie-talkies could only reach the short distance, satellite phones could become their best buddies for long range, ensuring they're not left in the dark when the regular signals decided to miss in action.
The mysterious caller used a satellite phone to reach out to Damon, keeping him in the loop with regular updates in the island. This high-tech communication device served as their direct line, ensuring Damon stayed informed about any progress or developments as they occurred.
"Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?" asked the mysterious caller.
"Yes, yes, I'm here," Damon responded. "Hey, everything going as we planned, right?"
"Indeed, everything is going according to the plan," said the mysterious caller. "Mr. Cooper, it's time we touch base. I've got something you need to hear."
Sitting up attentively, he replied, "Go ahead, I'm all ears."
"Trisha Lockhart kicked off her first day at work today, and there wasn't exactly a warm welcome waiting for her. I made sure to turn her first day at work into a bit of a nightmare. Doubt she'll stick around for too long."
"Great to hear. Any hiccups or surprises along the way?"
The mysterious caller mentioned, "Someone else from the main office showed up today."
Damon responded, "Oh, really? Any idea who it was?"
"It's Dashiell, the project lead," the mysterious caller replied. "I remember he came to this island around two years ago for project supervision. It was a whole deal–checking progress, overseeing the worksite, typical project lead stuff. He left quite an impression, seemed pretty hands-on back then."
"Dashiell? I don't recall knowing anyone by that name. Must be from another division or subsidiary."
The mysterious caller explained, "Yeah, he mentioned something about working in a different division. Seems like a new addition to the team."
Furrowing his brows, Damon responded, "Interesting. Well, I appreciate the heads-up. I'll have to find out more about this Dashiell and his role in the company."
"I've also been keeping an eye on things as you requested. She has been making some unexpected moves on Azure Bay Island."
Lowering his voice, Damon probed, "What kind of moves are we talking about?"
"She's been checking all files, getting cozy with the locals, exploring places off the beaten path. It seems like she's digging deeper than just the project."
Raising an eyebrow, Damon probed more, "Digging deeper? What do you mean?"
The mysterious caller replied cryptically, "Let's just say, she's showing a keen interest in areas not marked on any blueprints. Something's up, Mr. Cooper."
Intrigued by the mysterious caller's cryptic statement, Damon questioned, "What do you mean, 'something's up'? What's she doing in those unmarked areas?"
"She might start to suspect something, Mr. Cooper. The project might not be the only thing on her agenda." After a brief pause, the mysterious caller added, "She even planned to stay there for unlimited periods."
Trying to make sense of the unfolding situation, Damon asked, "Stay there for unlimited periods? What's prompting her sudden change in plans, and what else is she up to that I don't know about?"
"Seems like she's planning for more permanent stay." The mysterious caller disclosed, "She has instructed some workers to carry out repairs on the staff house, intending to make it her long-term residence. This project might just be a backdrop to a bigger story, Mr. Cooper."
Damon's mind raced with questions. This revelation painted a picture of Trisha that he hadn't anticipated, and the pieces of the puzzle seemed to be rearranging themselves in unexpected ways.
Thoughtfully, Damon replied, "Keep a close watch. We need to know exactly what she's up to and how it connects to our interests."
"Got it, boss. I'll keep an eye on her every move and let you know if anything fishy comes up."
"That's awesome! Keep it going!"
"But hold on, boss! Hey, are you there?" The mysterious caller questioned urgently.
"Yes, still here."
"Just checking, what about our deal?"
"Oh, don't worry. I stick to my word. Once Trisha fails with the project, I'll have you transferred from this remote island to the head office, to a nice spot with a good position."
"Perfect, boss! Counting on it," the mysterious caller responded with confidence. "Let's make sure Trisha's project hits a few bumps along the way."
"It's a deal," Damon said. "Just for starters, Trisha should run off with her tail between her legs."
"I got it! I'll keep things rolling on my end."
After the call ended, Damon became curious and began to suspect that Trisha was not who she claimed to be. There was a nagging feeling that she might not be the same person he had known for years.