April 12,2014
Saturday

"Found anything." I checked in my comms as I woke up . I waited for 45 seconds patiently before I heard an adorable-annoyed groan.

"I was sleeping!" She complained.

"Well! Why were you wearing comms while sleeping? Fair is fair like it was yesterday. Now tell me ." I asked as I stepped out of room and was now standing in hallway leaning my backside on door .

"Oh yes ! I found something really quite interesting. When you left your dorm , then someone was already waiting hiding in a corner and then followed you all the way until camera lost sight of you and that person too . Then just as you returned at 2:00 am, that person returned just few minutes before you as if barely scampering not to be found out that he or she was following you. " She revealed .

"But can't you trace from which dorm that person first started to sneak out of ..or went to when I returned?" 

"Max! Tell me , if I could, wouldn't I already have? It seems that  the person whoever it was , has a dorm on sixth floor because the cameras went haywire there and I wasn't able to get anything out of them ." She told me .

"How many dorms are there on sixth floor?" I questionned . This was all very interesting indeed . Why was someone following me ? I mean I haven't done something to upset anyone yet, have I ? Well maybe Selena Arias , Vincent Rodger and his sneaky collaborator , Pablo,  and couple other government officials..oh well !

"20 dorms. The stalker was quite careful covering their face and fizzing cameras and all ." She commented.

"Thanks Zee. I must have been getting weary on my skills if I couldn't detect someone following me ." I sighed.

"It happens, Maxxy. You still remain the youngest mystery solver currently." She placated my worries.

"Maxxy? Nicknames are supposed to be shorter than names and I don't know about youngest... never mind . I mean thanks for saying that ." I corrected myself.

"Wow! Someone has been getting manner classes." She chuckled. "Don't worry ! I will think of a better nickname soon ."

"Yeah! Don't get your hopes up . My manners are still on trial . Anyway, I have a plan . I am typing it currently on my mobile and sending it to you ." I said .

"You have a mobile? But hostel doesn't allow mobiles only laptops until fifth year" She began.

"Is this rule abiding principle coming from a student who made up her own background and  hacked into school database?  I did text you yesterday from mobile too , you know. You forgot, didn't you ?" There was an utter silence on other side.

"Hey ! What are you doing outside?" Cistella called out in her dizzy state leaning on door as I almost dropped my phone.

"Nothing! Just getting fresh air ." I quickly came up with an excuse.

"In the hallway . You are acting weird, Max . Whatever, I am going to sleep again so wake me up at 10 am , will you ?" She looked at me with hopeful eyes .

"Yeah! Yeah ! Of course. No need to look so desperate for that ." I sighed . Thank goodness! She didn't notice my mobile at all.

6:00 pm

Everything was set in motion. Adrial had gotten his first assignment as Zee or Selica was instructing him while I was sitting in Raul's place with Claude.

"So are you on a date ?" Selica said sarcastically as I almost choked on my drink.

"Of course not . And what are you doing? You are supposed to instruct Adrial ." I quickly texted from mobile.

"I can multitask " She clarified as I tried my best to maintain my face in front of Claude.

"So Max ! I have been thinking . Since you and I are basically free with no mysteries , and really no riveting birthday parties of any of our classmates soon , you want to start a club ?" She asked me .

"Ohoo." Zee hummed.

"I mean I am not saying it is not true or anything but all of sudden starting a club . I mean it is pretty interesting venture but what will that club be even about?" I raised my eyebrows.

"A Research Club about methodology of deduction and extensively about training people to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings . " She explained . Huh ! That is a bit unexpected.

"Well! It sounds like she has same idea as you basically but more open instead of covert. Go with her . After all she is also brilliant like you  and she li...." Selica stopped herself.

"Good ! Stay that way , Zee." I muttered.

"Did you say something, Max ?" Claude blinked.

"Oh no ! I was just thinking that about your idea and it seems nice." 

"So are you up for that ?" She asked.

 Ok! Time to think it through. I must think about it in utilatarian terms. If I don't join , then first  of all  Claude will be upset . She is my good partner and best friend so that will be downside. Then , it will also cause large attention towards me in a way that would be unwanted because people will wonder that why Max Ryder of all people is relucant to join a club specifically for mystery. But if I join it , I could also gain certain advantages. I would keep my time invested in something in eyes of whole school and they will be aware of my activitues so that would stop them from prying too much in my life when I am finished with those activities. Clare , Cistella and Claude all their suspicions will also be neutralized at once.

Plus using this as cover , I could  keep building my covert organization and no one will even suspect me. The lines between official training of students in art of deduction and actual covert operatives will be so blurred that no clear distinction will be there . That means that chances of them being spotted as an operative will reduce considerably and rather ,it will be seen as cheap imitation or practice executed by some amateurs which were adopted by our club memebers

But in order to do that ,  I would need to add some members of my own organization there too . If I add Zee there , she would mix in with people already and obviously membership will be large so she will also be hidden  and yet in plain sight. No one in my own organization would think that the voice behind comms would actually be in a mystery club so she would gain her cover with me .We could have a lot more interaction and yet without drawing much attention. This is awesome . This could indeed work.

"Max! Max! Maxx!  " I suddenly heard a voice as I snapped out of my thoughts.

"You have been staring at table for two minutes straight. Are you ok ? Do you not want to join after all?" Claude pouted looking away.

"Oh no ! You have got to let me join. I would love to ." I held her hand clearing her doubt  as she smiled relieved " Great ! "

"There was no need to hold hands . You know.." Selica's preturbed voice reached me.

"How could you know I held hands possibly?" I raised my eyebrows as Claude went to buy a drink.

"There is camera there too. I can access it ." She explained.

"Oh! That makes things a lot more clear. And no need to get jealous, Zee. You have like most chaptertime besides me this year ."

"Chaptertime? What ? And I am not jealous. No way ! If you think I am interested in you that way , you value yourself too highly." She scoffed.

"Well! I mean you can't exactly blame me for thinking since you infiltrated this hostel just to work under me ." I  sipped apple juice.

"I..it was to work with you . Never mind . Hey ! Get this, Mermaid caught." She informed me .

"That wasn't the code. I think it was fish hooked." I shook my head.

"You want to argue or feel excited at prospect of what is about to come next? What is it going to be , Max ?" She asked nonchalantly.

"Latter of course. Can't wait to meet my stalker." I exhaled as I put few cash on the table paying bill and left quickly for my room.

Au revoir readers! Keep posted for the next chapter.