"Are you not coming to school?" Anna asked the next day as I stepped out of my room. I had a bag on my shoulders and a cigarette in hand. With my hair tied up and my clothes looking almost the same as the day I had gone to help Anna, anyone would think the same.
"Not today," I said. "I'll drop you nearby if you want."
Anna nodded, biting on the toast as she rested on the kitchen counter. "Have breakfast first."
She was great as a roommate. Not asking any questions where not necessary. Perhaps it was because I was 'buying' her silence and her cooperation as a way of letting her stay. It was definitely something I could get used to.
Anna and I indulged in a quick breakfast and then she grabbed her bag. She seemed a little excited about going on the bike again. We took the lift down to the parking lot, and I put on the black helmet.
"No earrings today?"
"I don't want to be noticeable."
"Ah."
The bike's engine whirred and off we set. Anna didn't say much throughout the ride as we made our way on the road.
"Will you be late?"
"I am not sure, really. I am going to have a long day."
"Well, tomorrow is the weekend so you'll have time to relax. I'll keep dinner ready."
"You don't have to."
"I want to—Ah, the signal's green."
I drove her close to the school, a few turns before the bus stop we would usually get off at, and stopped the bike on the side of the road. Any further and people would see us, which wasn't really a problem for me, but I figured Anna wouldn't like to be seen driven to school by some shady biker. It was fair.
She held her bag in front of her and smiled.
"Be safe," she said as she left.
It was a Friday.
***
Near the arcade Mrs. Benson owned, I stopped the bike and met with a tall man looking completely out of place on the street. His bulging muscles and his glowing skin under the sunlight was sure to intimidate kids.
I waved at the man, and he turned to me with a frown.
"Johnson. Good noon."
"Tsk." The man clicked his tongue. He was not wearing his barista uniform that I was used to seeing him in, but instead was in complete casuals. The man was none other than the ex-pat from the US who worked as the head barista at Peridot's cafe.
"Why are you wearing your helmet on the streets?"
"I don't want to be noticeable."
"This is far more… Haah. Alright. Anyway, is that arcade the place you needed help with?" Johnson asked as he crossed his arms. Both of us turned our gaze to Mrs. Benson's arcade.
"Yup. Just keep her out the entire day today."
"Haah," Johnson sighed again. "I really didn't think I'll have to con people in this country.
"Hey, it will be a fun date. She's just like, twice your age at best."
Johnson frowned, I raised both hands and took a step back. Not fighting this tank of a person, I would get my ass handed to me. I lightly tapped his arm and gestured at the shop.
"Please. Do you have your cover?"
"Yes. I will tell her she's on jury duty."
"Is she?" I asked, my eyes slightly wide. Was that a good way to get someone out of their house for the day?
"No, of course not. I don't want to make that many arrangements for a single day."
"I hope this works."
"Do you think I should have said I am from Micr*soft support?"
"Won't that be foolproof."
We both shrugged. I took to the walls of the streets and Johnson walked ahead to the shop. He slowly entered, and I started glancing at my watch.
15 minutes, that was as long as it took for him to go and come back out, this time with Mrs. Benson in tow.
Johnson probably told her he was from the district courthouse and her presence was needed. A flash of some random paper would work as an ID for someone unsuspecting. As Mrs. Benson left, she locked the entrance of the arcade behind her. For a second, her eyes went up to the steel shutter door.
Johnson tapped her shoulder and urged her to move.
She left the shutter open. Perfect.
Within minutes, Johnson and Mrs. Benson had disappeared from sight, he had taken her to the car he parked near the road, and off they were.
A message came over on my phone from him.
[IloveJohnCoffeeSon: Thumbs up]
[~: Ok]
Why would he not send an emote? It was beyond me.
The next step was simple as well. I pulled out a tripod and a camera from my bag and started recording a video. A simple video that took the shop in the frame, and also the road. I started the recording with a simple voice-line.
"Take one. Gathering stock footage for video-editing side jobs. This is a time-lapse of a local street. The next video in this line is set to time-lapse mode."
I placed the camera and the tripod on a wall, a high enough spot that people won't knock it over while walking around.
There was no need for myself to enter the frame for the starting voice-line. All I had to do now was not to speak.
This much was enough.
All the preparations were ready.
I waited next, nearby, but not too suspiciously. Soon, my phone rang. I quickly picked it up.
[Hey, kid? It's me, from the restaurant.]
The voice from the other side rang in my ears as I took a deep breath.
[The people from that gaming house next door just left. It was the biggest group I've seen. You mentioned it might have something to do with your friend's shop so be careful ok? I highly recommend you call the police, just in case.]
"I understand. Thank you very much, uncle. I will handle it."
It was go time.