As Paige navigated the familiar streets of Manhattan, her mind raced with the implications of getting a DNA sample from Aiko. The girl was strong-willed and suspicious. However, the distressing part of the plan was accessing Jane’s secure file server. Jake had warned her that the system was monitored, and it was difficult to access it without alerting anyone. The thought of attracting attention to their activities sent a chill down her spine.

I’ve got to be careful who I let in on this. Too many people already know.

Just as she was about to turn onto the West Side Highway, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. With a quick glance at the caller ID, she confirmed her suspicion. It was him. It was Malcolm.

Paige pulled off the main road and found an open spot on a side street near Harlem. She kept a watchful eye on any threat as she answered the call. “Malcolm, what do you have for me?”

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“You’re in luck, Paige,” Malcolm’s voice crackled through the line, his British accent as crisp as ever. “Per the details of your request, we already have an operative in place to watch Aiko.”

Paige’s grip tightened on the phone, her knuckles turning white. “Who’s in place? What can you tell me about this person?”

“Discretion is our currency, my dear,” he said, his voice dripping with mystery. “Rest assured, we will handle your request carefully.” Our operative is a master of many trades, a true enigma.”

Paige’s brow furrowed at the cryptic response. “Malcolm, you know how important this is. I need more information than that.”

“I understand your urgency, Paige, but trust we have the situation well in hand. Our operative is one of the best and will deliver.”

Paige pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling the familiar sensation of a migraine coming on.

She was determined to unlock the secrets of Project Mindjevity, no matter the cost.