Episode 3~Zino Exhibit

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The museum closed early due to the theft. I check the glass case to see if it was tampered with and realise the alarms were disabled. All of that security just to be a decoration. The camera were less of a help because they seemed to be tampered with as well. This thief was no ordinary arrogant criminal; he was a scheming mastermind, ahead of our every move.

I headed home to start working on the case overnight. Agent Jade offered to drop me off which I was thankful for. We both sat at the front of the car, Jade turned on the radio and the first song to play was a romance. We awkwardly blushed and looked away, so he turned off the radio. I thanked him for the ride and he eventually left.

I look at the cork-board which I used to solve some of my previous successful cases and start to take it apart.

I look outside the window before heading to bed. I open it and then start scrolling through my phone. I notice that it suddenly gets dark, but it wasn't the sky...A hand reaches out of the dark and snatches my phone, I hear someone shout Gotcha. His face isn't visible but his mask is...a smile is imprinted on it. I put my years of training into use, I squeeze myself through the window and try to catch up with the thief. He parkours across the rooftops and I follow, thoughts race through my head: how did he find me? Where did he come from? Who is he?

I see him jump off the roof and pause for a second...did he die? I look down to where he went and notice a rope, I slide down to get to where he is but once I reach the bottom I land in his arms. I lay there staring at my enemy and my enemy stares back at me. The moon glows behind his head, but I don't have time to focus on it and reach for his mask. He drops me as he recoils and darts away. Once I get back to my feet he is nowhere to be see.

I trudge back, annoyed at the thief. I do not want to waste my money on another phone. Once I reach my apartment I notice something...my phone is on the desk. Maybe he wasn't that annoying after all, but he now knows where I live. I lift up my phone examining it and then smash it onto the floor in case he implanted anything into it. I look back at my desk and notice a note:

"Nice meeting you darlin', next location I'm targeting is the Zino exhibit, ill be waiting. xxx"

I stare at the note in disbelief, firstly I am not his darling and secondly I do not know if the note is fake. I open my laptop and message Jade the location. I head to bed after the exhausting day.

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Xavier is at the cafe once again, he orders his morning coffee and after I finish making it, I sit at his table until more customers arrive. Me and Xavier talk for while to fill in the silence. My thoughts drift to the Zino exhibit, its at 7pm this evening so I have plenty of time.

Xavier has to head to work and Maddie's shift ends so I stay behind to clean up. The cafe feels lonely and empty without anyone here. Finally, a customer arrives and walks towards the counter. He strides while walking and his attention is to the floor.

"What would you like sir?" I say while getting a cup ready. The man lifts his head and I see emerald eyes staring back at me. "Jade?"

He nods at me and whispers: " My undercover name is Sebastian, also I would really like a coffee". Jade watches me make it and once I hand it over, he sips it in between each sentence.

"So, we have to go soon. You coming?" I ask him. He gestures towards the outside of the shop and we exit the shop, locking it behind me. It snows and I start to shiver , my apron and paper thin uniform is of no use against the cold. Jade notices this and wraps his blazer around me. It has a scent of coffee which makes me feel cosy. As we head towards the office, I explain my encounter with the thief.

Today the office has more people, 2 different groups of detectives work on their cases and ignore us as we enter. Jade and me do some research on the Zino exhibit and find out that among the different objects which would be displayed, there is a special headpiece. Is the thief trying to get a complete outfit for a battle or something?

I return to my apartment to find an outfit for the Exhibit. Jade bought the tickets for both of us and the place is quite extravagant so I needed to prepare elegant apparel. My dress is grey to not stand out of the crowd, and I hold a fan to cover my face as best as I can. My disguise will do the rest.

I wait outside for Jade. I would soon have to go against the thief once again. I forgot to return Jade's jacket so I cradle it in my arms, when I feel someone tap on my shoulder... A masked man. I raise my hands in defence when suddenly he lifts up his mask...

"Don't worry, its me, Agent Jade." His presence relieves me and I hand back his blazer. We walk towards the exhibit. Agent Jade decides to go to the top floor to keep a bird's eye view while I stay close to the exhibit from the ground floor.

This time I walk around while closely examining each person. Someone stands out from the rest of the aristocrats and unknown people...Xavier. I walk towards him and lower my fan. "Xavier?" He turns around, but he doesn't seem happy this time.

"What are you doing here?" he hisses at me.

"I have come to see the exhibit, how come you aren't at work?" I reply back.

I hear a commotion and turn around, a man lowers himself into the exhibit and snatches the headpiece. I try to run towards it but Xavier stops me: "What are you doing, stay back". He runs towards the man and skilfully parkours to snatch back the headpiece. They both break out into a fight, I move my finger towards my earpiece to call agent Jade but no response. I FORGOT TO GIVE HIM HIS EARPIECE. I take off my heels and bolt upstairs, I start searching but it would take too long so I instead join in the fight. Xavier gets knocked to the ground and the thief starts ascending to the top to escape. I ascend too and attempt to take the headpiece back, but instead of resisting he holds onto me and brings me higher. We reach the roof and I start throws kicks and punches at him but he dodges my every attack. Who is he? The mysterious man then goes to the edge of the building and jumps off once again. A set of high tech wings emerge from his back and he flies off. I hopelessly sit on the roof top when I notice that he dropped something, a rose. Hidden within the petals is a note to the next location...A smile forms on my face which I hide with my fan.

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