Khayce's expression turned grave as he delivered the news, "We found something." Amaya's curiosity was piqued, and she quickly pressed for more information, "What did you find?" she asked, her eyes locked intently on Khayce.
Khayce's response was enigmatic, "Follow me." He turned the bookshelf, revealing the hidden elevator, and stepped inside. Amaya followed closely behind, her mind racing with possibilities. Isla and Royal exchanged a brief, knowing glance before trailing behind them into the elevator.
The elevator doors slid open once more, and Khayce emerged, walking purposefully towards the computer that still hummed with activity. He settled into the chair, his eyes scanning the screen as he began to explain, "She attends Cambridge High."
Amaya's patience was wearing thin, "So?" she prompted, her tone laced with a hint of impatience.
Khayce's expression remained serious, "That's not the only school she's attended. She also went to Summer Cove High before transferring to Cambridge High." He paused, allowing the significance of his words to sink in.
Amaya's eyes narrowed, "What's the connection?"
Khayce's fingers danced across the keyboard, and images began to appear on the screen. "Summer Cove High has a history of mysterious events. There were reports of strange occurrences, and the school was eventually shut down."
Amaya's curiosity was piqued, "Why was it shut down?"
Khayce's expression turned thoughtful, "That's the thing – it was shut down by its owner, which is unusual, given that the school wasn't struggling financially, and there were no major incidents at the time."
As Khayce spoke, images of the school's owner and financial records appeared on the screen, painting a puzzling picture. Amaya's eyes scanned the information, her mind racing with theories and questions.
As the investigation continued to unfold, a startling revelation emerged. "The other victim who disappeared had also attended the same school as Annabelle, before its abrupt shutdown," Zen announced, his eyes scanning the room as he delivered the news.
The team's attention was riveted on Zen as he continued, "I managed to hack into Annabelle's phone, and while there were no overtly threatening calls or messages, one name kept popping up – Luna. Annabelle received numerous calls from Luna, but curiously, she never answered."
Zen's fingers flew across the keyboard, and the computer screen flickered to life, displaying a cryptic message. "I also hacked into Luna's phone, and this was the only suspicious message I could find." The message read: "Don't you dare tell anyone, or else I'll keep you in forever."
The team exchanged uneasy glances, sensing that they were onto something. Zen's eyes locked onto the screen as he revealed, "I traced the origin of the message, and surprisingly, it came from Luna's father – the owner of Summer Cove High."
Isla's brow furrowed in confusion. "That's quite odd. What could be the connection between Luna's father and Annabelle's disappearance?"
Royal's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. "What's our next move, Amaya?"
Amaya stood pensively, weighing their options before responding. "We need more information about Annabelle. Where does she live?"
Khayce consulted his notes. "She lives not far from here."
Amaya's eyes sparkled with determination. "And what about Luna and her father?"
"They reside in the countryside, near Green Weed Lake," Khayce replied.
Amaya's gaze turned introspective. "The school was shut down two months ago. Do you think Luna's father had a hand in Annabelle's disappearance?" Royal asked
Amaya's response was measured. "I haven't said that... yet."
The team fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts as they pondered the mystery unfolding before them.
Finally, Amaya broke the silence. "Tomorrow, we'll pay a visit to Annabelle's house. Khayce, what's her family situation?"
Khayce consulted his notes once more. "She lives with her parents and has no siblings. From what I've gathered, she's a bit of a loner and doesn't connect with people easily. Her only apparent friend is Luna."
Isla's expression turned sympathetic. "Alright, you two need to get some rest. You both look like you've been up for days."
Khayce and Zen nodded in agreement, their exhaustion evident. They bid the others goodnight and retired to their respective rooms.
As the night wore on, Royal turned to Isla with a mischievous grin. "About that challenge..."
Isla's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Winner gets to order the other around for three days."
Royal's eyes widened in mock horror. "Three days? You're kidding, right?"
Isla's smile turned sly. "Don't tell me you're afraid of losing?"
Royal's confidence surged. "Never. I'm going to win, and you'll be doing my bidding for three whole days."
Isla chuckled, and the two shook hands, sealing their wager. "Deal," Royal said, his eyes gleaming with determination.
***
As the night wore on, Royal carefully parked the black van beside Annabelle's opulent mansion, positioning it on the opposite side of the road. The mansion's grandeur was awe-inspiring, with towering spires and immaculately manicured lawns. Royal couldn't help but glance at the mansion, his eyes widening in surprise. "You didn't tell us she lives in a mansion," he said, his voice laced with a hint of incredulity.
Khayce, seated behind one of the two large computers in the van, looked up apologetically. "Oh, sorry about that."
Royal opened the safe and retrieved a sleek, high-tech device in the form of a wristwatch. He handed it to Isla, who was preparing to embark on a stealthy mission. "I've sent the building plan of Annabelle's mansion to the device," Khayce explained.
Royal nodded, his eyes locked onto Isla. "Okay."
Amaya handed Isla a covert earpiece, which she discreetly placed in her ear. With a deep breath, Isla stepped out of the van and crossed the road, her eyes fixed on the mansion's imposing fence.
The area enclosed by the fence was vast, with the mansion situated far from the perimeter. Khayce's urgent voice crackled through the earpiece, "Don't touch the fence, it's electrified. Annabelle's father ordered his security team to electrify the fence every night. He's paranoid about being watched."
Isla's sarcastic reply was laced with a hint of annoyance. "Yeah, thanks for informing me early enough."
Isla's spy suit was a masterpiece of understated elegance, perfectly suited for a stealthy mission. The late-night hour, coupled with the darkness, provided the ideal cover for her infiltration.
With a fluid motion, Isla sprinted towards the fence, her feet pounding the ground in a rhythmic cadence. She executed two precise cartwheels, her body a blur of motion, before launching herself into the air. Time seemed to slow as she effortlessly cleared the fence, landing with a soft thud on the mansion's grounds.
Royal's voice crackled through the earpiece once more, "Tap your wristwatch twice on the screen."
Isla glanced at the wristwatch, its black screen gleaming in the faint moonlight. She tapped the screen twice, and a holographic display sprang to life, casting an ethereal glow on the surrounding environment. The hologram depicted a detailed, three-dimensional structure of the mansion, providing Isla with a valuable layout of the premises.
Zen's reassuring voice echoed through the earpiece, "Don't worry about the cameras, I've taken care of them."
Isla's response was brief, her focus solely on the mission at hand. "Okay."
Isla sprinted across the expansive grounds of the mansion, her feet pounding the dewy grass as she made her way to the rear of the estate. The sound of gently lapping water grew louder, and she soon found herself standing before a majestic pool, its surface reflecting the starry night sky like a mirror.
Without hesitation, Isla opened a window and climbed into the mansion, finding herself in the midst of a grand library. The room was a bibliophile's paradise, with towering shelves stretching towards the ceiling, laden with leather-bound tomes and rare manuscripts. However, Isla's mission was not to admire the literary treasures; she swiftly traversed the room, her eyes fixed on the door leading out of the library.
As she entered the living room, Isla was met with a warm, golden glow emanating from the table lamps. She switched on the light she was holding, casting a bright beam across the room. The space was lavishly furnished, with plush couches and armchairs arranged around a roaring fireplace. However, Isla's attention was focused on her mission, and she swiftly made her way towards Annabelle's room, guided by the holographic structure of the house displayed on her wristwatch.
As she stood before Annabelle's door, Isla's hand instinctively went to the tools she had brought along to pick locks. She worked her magic, and the door creaked open, revealing a room that was the epitome of elegance. The space was neatly arranged, with every item in its designated place. However, despite the opulent furnishings, the room exuded a sense of dullness, with a color scheme dominated by black, brown, and white.
Isla's gaze swept across the room, taking in every detail. Her eyes lingered on a stack of books arranged atop a dresser, and she walked over to investigate. The books seemed innocuous enough, but Isla's trained instincts told her that there might be more to them than met the eye.
She opened the first book, only to find its pages blank. The second book contained class notes and math calculations, but nothing out of the ordinary. However, the third book caught her attention – it was a diary with an unusually thick cover and a lock on the front. Isla's curiosity was piqued, and she carefully set the book aside, deciding to take it with her for further examination. The fourth book was a novel, and Isla replaced it on the stack, ensuring that everything was left exactly as she had found it.
As she prepared to leave the room, Isla reported back to the team via her earpiece, "I don't think there's much to find in Annabelle's room, except for the weird book with the lock. I'm leaving the mansion now." With the diary securely in her possession, Isla locked the door behind her and began to make her way towards the staircase. However, her departure was suddenly halted by the sound of footsteps echoing from behind her.