Manhattan, NY
May 18, 2012 1037 hours

    “Hey, anything new?” Kowalski asked Skipper as he walked over to him. Skipper was on the sopa on his laptop.

    “Not much, except we seem to be getting a new neighbor. Goes sa pamamagitan ng ‘Elizabeth Shields’. I don’t trust her.”

    “Why? You haven’t even met her yet.”

    “Because…she just moved to Manhattan and the last resident to that apartment moved out yesterday. This morning, here she is.”

    “Skipper…you always jump to conclusions. Have you ever even heard of this ‘Elizabeth Shields’?”

    “No…but…” Skipper went deep in thought.

    “But what?”

    “It’s just…she just somehow looks familiar…” He had her bista sa tagiliran up on the laptop, and was carefully examining her picture.

    “You’re just paranoid Skipper.”

    “What’s all this then?” Private asked entering the living room.

    “Someone’s moving into the vacant apartment susunod door and Skipper’s paranoid.”

    “Oh Skipper’s always paranoid.”

    “Hey! I’m right here!”

    (Kowalski) “Oh come now Skipper, can’t you just give her a chance till you get to know her?”

    (Private) “Don’t you think you can be a little too paranoid sometimes Skipper?”

    “That’s just what Manfredi and Johnson sinabi back in ‘Nam. Who knew you could be attacked sa pamamagitan ng Indians in the jungle?”

    “Whatever Skipper. But I still think we should give her a chance.” Kowalski sinabi turning and going into the kitchen, where Rico was chopping up sushi while practicing his kutsilyo tricks. He tossed one kutsilyo in the air and caught it behind his back while chopping up sushi with his other hand at the same time.

    “You know if you cut your finger off one of these days don’t come cryin’ to me.” Kowalski told him grabbing a soda from the fridge. Rico gave him a look, then slammed his fist on the side of the cutting board, propelling seven knives into the air. Rico then started juggling them, catching them in front and behind himself, not even looking at his hands. As his finale, he caught six of the knives, three in each hand, and the seventh in his teeth.

    “Showoff…” Kowalski muttered leaving the kusina sipping the soda.


(Elizabeth’s POV)

    I finally arrived at the apartment. I unlocked the door with the key I was ibingiay at the check-in desk, and brought my suitcases into the large room. I had no idea what was in the suitcases, which worried me. I was told not to open them until I arrived at the apartment. What was worse, I was told someone would be watching me…and I had no idea who or where he was. I entered a small room and set the suitcases on the bed.

    I opened the thinnest one. Inside I found a laptop, some headphones, and my files. In the pocket inside the lid, there was an envelope. I took it and opened it, emptying the contents into my hand. They were pictures. They had the names written on the back. The first one sinabi ‘Skipper’. I looked at the susunod one: ‘Kowalski’. The third: ‘Rico’. And the fourth: ‘Private’. But there was also one more. My puso seemed to stop, my breath catching in my throat…my eyes widening at the sight of my son.

    Ryan…he was on the sopa that I woke up in…but that wasn’t what ticked me off. Hans was sitting susunod to him, his left arm around him, holding his shoulders. I could see the fear in Ryan’s eyes. Tears welled in my eyes. I looked on the back. It was Ryan’s handwriting. ‘HELP’ was written in capital letters. My hand closed tightly around the photo, balling it up. Anger welled up inside me…like a bulkan about to erupt…no…EXPLODE. If Hans were here right now I don’t know if I’d be able to keep my hands from cutting off his air supply. If it wouldn’t of put Ryan’s life at stake…I would’ve karate chopped his sorry asno halfway to China. If there’s anyone I feel like shoving this dagger into…it’s him. No one touches my son.

    I put the mga litrato back into the suitcase and open the case that looks madami like a duffle bag. Just clothes and an extra pair of shoes. Do I even want to know how he knows what size I wear now? After I put my clothes into drawers, I go out on the terrace for some fresh air. I lean against the railing, putting my face in my hands. I could feel myself on the verge of crying, but I held back. I couldn’t cry here. I had to be strong. If they get the slightest notion that I’m up to something who knows if I’ll ever get the job done. I haven’t even thought about what would happen if they figured me out. I picked my face up and crossed my arms, still leaning against the railing.

    What if I fail? What will happen to Ryan? I couldn’t madala the thought of losing him. I looked up at the sky. Wherever he is…my only hope is that he’s okay. Unharmed. I felt something then…something I’d never felt before…something deep in my heart. I couldn’t quite describe it. It wasn’t a tight feeling…nor was it a soft or loose feeling…or empty… I don’t know what I’m feeling right now or why. All I knew is that whatever I had to do to save my son…I was gonna do it.

    I heard something to my left, I turned…and there stood Private in the flesh. He looks a little bit different from his picture…or maybe that’s just me. “Um…I’m sorry to bother you…I’m Private…your neighbor. Is everything alright then? You looked kind of deep in thought.” He spoke with a British accent. I haven’t heard an accent like that in eight years. I forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little tired. Long drive here, ya know?” What else was I supposed to say? Hi. I’m Elizabeth Shields. I came all the way here to kill your friend to save my son so I feel a little down. Yeah…that sounds like a good idea.

    “Yeah…I’ve had those long drives’ before. So where are you from? That is if you don’t mind my asking.” He leaned against the railing susunod to me, looking at me waiting for an answer. I remember the files I looked through on the drive here. “New Jersey. I came looking for work. I just applied at the kainan downstairs. I figured I could make a few bucks while I’m looking.”

    “That’s nice. So what do you do?” What is this? Twenty questions? Kids… “I’m an architect.” At least I didn’t have to lie about that. I actually was an architect before…well you know.

    “Wow! That’s amazing! You must get paid an awful lot!”

    “Yes, I suppose I do.” I sinabi fake smiling. I wasn’t mad at the kid for asking so many questions…he doesn’t know anything about my needing to shove a dagger through his friends’ heart. So it’s not like he knows he’s killing me right now.

    “Cool! Well…I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I’d better get back in to my friends. I’ll see you around then?” madami than you think if I can get to Kowalski. “Yeah. Sure.” I continued wearing that fake smile till he entered his apartment. I then turned and re-entered mine.

(No one’s POV)

    “Hey guys!” Private sinabi as he walked happily up to Skipper. “Guess what?”

    “I don’t do guessing games.” Skipper sinabi nonchalantly.

    “Fine. I just met our new neighbor!”

    “You did WHAT!?” Skipper exclaimed.

    “What? I saw her out on the terrace and went to say hello! There’s nothing wrong with that!”

    “Private…you know you’re not supposed to just go talking to complete strangers unsupervised.”

    “And what do you think she would’ve done to me?”

    “Anything’s possible Private. What did you two talk about?”

    “Nothing much. I told her we were the neighbors and…um…she told me she’s looking for a position in architecture. That’s about it.”

    “Well Private…next time don’t go talking to strangers without one of us. Understood?”

    “Yeah…understood. But she seemed really nice though.”

    “Yeah, your key word is there. ‘Seem’. Remember everything isn’t always as it seems.”

    “Yes sir.” Private sinabi sitting on the couch. Kowalski sat susunod to him.

    “So what’d she look like?”

    “She has brown hair in a bun style…green eyes…and is just shorter than you sa pamamagitan ng about four or five inches. She’s really nice Kowalski. I think we all might become good mga kaibigan if she plans on staying for a while.”

    “Yeah…maybe. Just be careful. You never know who some people really are.”