CHAPTER 23

"Why did you decline the offer that was handed over to you by Mr. Santiago?" Leo asked Tom in genuine curiosity.

"Like I said to him, I'm a contractor and don't want to be bound to a certain person but I would like to build a network of my own." Tom replied as he had started to see a clearer path of the great thrill he could experience if he did jobs for different sets of personnels, supervillains included. 

This put a stomp on Leo's plans he had thought of keeping Tom all to himself, but Tom wasn't having it and intended to build a name for himself in the criminal underground. It was new information to him and it might prove difficult to keep Tom under his control. 

He pondered on this thought for a while as Tom idled away in his own thoughts, just sitting on a couch and staring into a blank space like he was lost in thoughts. But he was glad he was the only one who knew his real face and capabilities, also the only one who could get to him directly, the only one with first hand access to him and would expect an immediate response when he reached out. 

One thing Leo wasn't aware of was Tom's powers, no one had any knowledge of it as he never told a soul about it. 

While he sank into the couch and stared at a blank space, he was actually running a simulation in his head on how the operation should be carried out and also going through the timing of each surveillance camera once more. He tried thinking of countermeasures in case there was a flop or unprecedented development. 

He needed this job to be perfect, to be an easy in and out mission. The men just had to infiltrate the estate, sneak into the mansion and get output without being spotted or raising an alarm. He intended to watch the operation and give direct commands through the comms, to help the operation move smoothly. 

"Hey Leo, does the mafia operate over here at Central City?" Tom asked Leo a sudden question outta nowhere. 

Leo took a sip out of his glass of Tennessee whiskey as he turned to Tom, wondering why he would ask a question inquiring about the mafia's operations. 

"Yes they do, but they operate so quietly and coordinated they barely get noticed. I heard there was a power war currently going on within the mafia families, stretching out to major cities like Gotham, Star City, Metropolis, all in the midst of their power struggle. I'm sure that this operation might be linked to the internal affairs going on within the mafias network. He must be hoping to gain some kind of advantage over the other by stealing one of their family's most prized possessions." He took another sip of whiskey after stating the facts but he knew not everything was as it seemed so he stopped there and refused to go further. 

Tom thought to himself that there must be something special about that painting, not everything is as it seemed just like what Leo had told him. Maybe it contained secrets to be guarded within the Mafias, that would explain the layers of security used to guard that mansion and the desperation of their client to get his hands on it.

The day after the meeting with Leo and the conversation with the client, Tom received an email on his laptop which informed him about the provision of what he had requested concerning the operation. 

"That was fast. Gotta hand it to the Mafia, they sure are resourceful." Tom talks to no one in particular as he prepares the finishing touches on his plan.

He contacted Leo and told him to inform the client that the operation will take place the next day, he needed to tweak the EMP a little so he could contain the range at which the pulse would be active. 

During his free time he had been studying machines and how they work, he found tweaking with machines and objects to be fun especially since he became a fast learner and his intellect kept increasing each time he studied some books  or watched videos concerning them. 

Tom wasn't so good with machines or devices yet, but he had studied a few books and watched a few videos which gave him the knowledge and understanding on how he could tweak the EMP and control it's range. If the range wasn't contained and the EMP ends up shutting down the cameras it'll definitely raise an alarm and alert the guards, informing them about the presence of the intruders. 

Both Tom and Leo had met at one of he's hideouts and the EMP was given to Tom along with some necessary tools. He tweaked the EMP and reduced the proximity of the area it could cover. 

"Why are you messing with the device again?" Leo asked inquisitively. 

"So when it is activated near the mine field it will temporarily deactivate the mines and give the men safe passage in and out of the estate, it will affect only the mines and nothing beyond that region." He explained as he kept tinkering with the device. 

"All done." He said as he closed up the device. 

"Seriously? That was fast, I never took you to be a tech-wizard." Leo said to him with an ounce of curiosity in his tone. 

"Nah I'm definitely not a tech-wizard. I just do research and study whatever it is I need that knowledge for, and then I can put it into practice. 

They attempted testing the EMP to observe how successful Tom was with this project as he programmed it to send an electromagnetic pulse within the safe house and just a meter away around it. 

Immediately he turned it on and every electronic device around the safe house suddenly turned off like life was snuffed out of them. They were in total darkness, Tom checked his phone and every electrical appliance around them just to be sure and there wasn't any response. He looked out the window to observe the street lights which were located just across the street and discovered it was still on, he let out a mild chuckle as Leo stared at the street lights in awe of how fast he was able to modify the device to his need. 

Tom turned off the EMP and every device including the security cameras Leo had placed around the building immediately received power and switched back on. 

"I'm guessing with this you are prepared for the job tomorrow." Leo remarked as he stared at the appliances in awe of how he was able to minimize the range of the EMP without being a tech-wiz. 

"Yes I am, tomorrow the operation to steal that painting will commence according to plan." He responded in much anticipation of the mission at hand. 

The next morning Tom was dressed in all black, also with a black balaclava covering his white hair and ninety-five percent of his face leaving only the visibility of his eyes. This was his outfit for missions because he needed to conceal he's true identity, after all he was in bed with criminals and one thing he knew was never to trust criminals. 

He was given a lift with a helicopter to a base where the men who would be taking on the mission were gathered. 

As he got down from the helicopter, a man walked straight up to him. 

"You must be Ghost." He said as he stretched out his hand for a introductional handshake. 

"Who wants to know?" Tom asked the strange man who was dressed in an all black combat uniform. 

He retracted his hand and knew he needed to introduce himself first, it was to be expected from someone who conceals his true identity and does not have a criminal record. 

"I'm Hudson, the captain of this group and also a mercenary." He introduced himself then gave a hand gesture to inform the guest to follow him as he continued. 

"I will be leading this operation and I was ordered to listen to whatever instruction you gave concerning the mission, as it was said your specialty was an asset much needed for the success of this job." The man said as they walked into a warehouse filled with men who were loading and cleaning their weapons, preparing themselves so as to avoid any flaw. 

" Um, a clean weapon is a much reliable one." Tom muttered as he saw how seriously they cleaned their guns, knives and tomahawks. 

"Huddle up." Hudson said to the men as he walked to a board which portrayed the blueprints of both the estate, and the mansion. 

"Gentlemen, this man right here is known as Ghost. He's going to be overseeing this operation and I want you all to listen to his every instruction. So just listen to what he has to say right now. it would be in your favor to pay attention to him as he briefs us, that's if you want this operation to be smooth sailing for us." Every man who was standing there suddenly turned to Tom, as they gave him their undivided attention. 

Tom looked at everyone for a few seconds as the room fell silent, before he proceeded to explain the plan to everyone present.