Vesta's Point of View.
Damn it! Ace was trapped. Any word she uttered would betray her.
We were all going to our designated posts when I heard she was in trouble.
They stood encircling the post, weapons ready to fire if the woman didn't respond.
Then, the first guest arrived. Given the precarious situation, she didn't even attempt to verify their credentials. She simply pulled the lever to raise the barricade.
At that moment, she was desperately trying to recall the sound of the woman's voice, hoping to mimic it convincingly.
"Just say something". I offered her advice through the communication system.
It was the mechanical groan of the moving barricade lever that provided the cover she needed when she finally gave them a response.
"Yes, alright," she answered, attempting to imitate the woman who had instructed her to leave the grounds with the dog.
They fell for it, returning to their posts, clearly not wanting the arriving guest to suspect any disruption. So she was miraculously got free from being caught.
Earlier, as our bus approached the mansion, we conducted a preliminary survey of the guards positioned within the curtilage before disembarking.
Having ascertained their numbers and locations, we divided our team, assigning each member to a specific post.
My assignment was the mansion's entrance. My task was to secure the guests inside once our takeover commenced.
"The craziest task for the craziest one," Swiss had quipped when my role was designated.
My initial challenge was navigating a tall, electrified fence. Successfully clearing that obstacle, I emerged from a decorative floral maze and proceeded directly into an open field where two security personnel awaited me, each armed with a Taser.
They were competent. One managed to graze me with his Taser, but I neutralized both threats within seconds, binding them to a secluded tree, their mouths and eyes secured.
I was just finishing when a security dog materialized unexpectedly, barking aggressively and poised to attack.
I wouldn't flee from a dog. While it was undoubtedly trained, I, too, received specialized training to handle such encounters.
Dogs often bark and feint a chase to provoke a fleeing response.
I took a deliberate step back, feigning retreat. As anticipated, the dog lunged. I timed my reaction perfectly, intercepting its jump with my forearm.
Using one of the guard's ties, I secured its muzzle. My right arm encircled its neck as we wrestled on the ground, my left hand attempting to calm its head.
The dog proved stubbornly resistant, and time was of the essence to secure the entrance. My gaze fell upon a small, inconspicuous door at the rear of the mansion.
My intention was to confine the dog within. Upon opening it, I discovered it was filled with dog food.
"Perfect," I muttered. I fashioned a makeshift bowl from a piece of cheese and slowly began to untie the dog's muzzle, bracing for an immediate attack.
Instead, the dog devoured the cheese with surprising speed.
It must have been some time since its last meal. I retrieved another bag of food and added it to the bowl.
My attention now shifted to my designated post. The guard I was to relieve was remarkably tall with a broad chest.
His imposing stature wasn't the primary concern. The challenge lay in devising a way to lure him away from the entrance to a more advantageous location for a confrontation.
I first retraced my steps to the two guards I had bound to the tree, noting one of their names.
"Toni is down," I announced upon returning to the tall guard.
He immediately recognized this as a deliberate tactic to gain his attention. My plan was set in motion. I intended for him to pursue me, and he did.
In the same area where I had engaged the first two guards, another fight erupted, this time against the larger man.
It's often amusing how some individuals possess impressive physiques without the corresponding agility or skill.
I subdued him quicker than anticipated with a few well-executed martial maneuvers.
My part was complete. I informed the others that I had secured my post. Then, the dog reappeared. Damn!
In its mouth, it held another sachet of cheese, looking up at me as if asking for permission to eat it.
I led it to the food-filled room and promptly opened nearly all the remaining food, allowing it to eat its fill.
Our first guest had arrived. I greeted him warmly, followed by the second, then the third. Father had indicated there would be six guests. Once the sixth guest was inside, I awaited the signal to lock the entrance.
Then, a seventh guest appeared.
I was taken aback by Ace's presence at the gate. I questioned it aloud, unaware I had spoken, and Father's voice responded through the communication system in my ear. Ace had mistakenly allowed an unauthorized guest to enter, and I was instructed to be prepared.
Helen's Point of View
All the anticipated guests were now inside, but there were seven, not the expected six. Furthermore, there were eight vehicles instead of seven.
This discrepancy signaled a problem. Ace at the gate should have given the all-clear for our operation to commence, but there had clearly been a mix-up.
Our earpiece communication system was interconnected, allowing everyone to hear each other's transmissions.
I contacted Father to confirm the guest count, and he reiterated six.
Ace confirmed that she hadn't checked the first guest's credentials due to the urgent situation she was facing at the time of their arrival.
This meant we would first have to deal with the remaining security outside before confronting the unexpected guest inside who was guarding our diamond.
Our planning had been meticulous, and everything had proceeded smoothly, except for Ace's oversight.
Numerous guards remained outside, clearly visible, and now there was an unknown devil inside with the guests, protecting our objective.
The presence of this unknown individual was the major concern, as we had no information about his capabilities or intentions.
Everything else was in place; we were simply awaiting Oscar and Mince to execute their parts of the plan so we could initiate the final phase.
It required considerable effort and cunning for Helen to fulfill her role in this mission.
Given her prominent bust, blending in with the male guards presented a unique challenge. The only advantage was that they were not in uniform.
Despite their lack of uniforms, they were highly alert and not communicating verbally, making her infiltration surprisingly seamless.
However, the captain of their group noticed her concealed figure. He approached her and demanded, "Who are you?"
Inwardly, I questioned Mince's delay in executing her part of the plan.
Just then, and fortunately, I could see Mince navigating in Helen's distance, arriving precisely on time.
Helen yelled at her to freeze, but she continued to advance. Helen drew her handgun and shot her in the belly.