Chapter 3: The Peralta Mansion

As Mama Luna finished her tea, Pink took her cup as she laid back on her chair. She closed her eyes and smiles as she placed her interlaced hands below her chest.

"That's about it, baby. I can say that the rest is history."

"Mama, it's still a bit early. Can you please continue?"

Pink is so lucky because Mama Luna granted her plea. She asked Pink first if she can bring a blanket because it's getting a bit chilly. The jolly girl hurriedly went to the kitchen first to wash her plate and Mama Luna's teacup. Then, she went to the employee's room behind the lounge bar and got a freshly folded blanket. Pink did the laundry yesterday so she knew that the blankets are clean.

She then returned to the balcony and placed the blanket on Mama's lap. It is a soft, white blanket with a Blue Moon Lounge embroidered at one of the corners. She also dragged a chair so she can be near the old woman.

"Some of the details I'm going to tell you next should only stay between us. Is that understood?"

"You can count on me, Mama Luna," she promised as she motioned zipping her lips.

No outsider should know how the Peralta family's main house looks. Rumors say that the blueprints of the house were burned, and only Peralta family members built the mansion. This was before boss Luca was even born so no one could truly confirm that story. As for me, I guess it's just one of those stories that are being passed from one generation to another. Just make sure that the next generation will not sell the house, or else they need to declare a lot of killings to the real estate agent.

What the public knows is that the Peralta household is nestled in the western part of the city. Wherein it is not far enough from the hustle and the bustle of Dos Rios, but quiet enough to be called a sanctuary amidst the concrete jungle. It is said that the first Peralta settlers took advantage of the city's two rivers. They used it to act as a boundary, and at the same time, part of their defense, in case enemies try to invade their place. If you're going to check our city map, you could see that there's the main river coming from the eastern part of our neighboring city. Just at the boundary, it splits into two, creating two rivers. The part wherein the rivers surround a piece of land is where the Peralta's made their perch. Those parts of the rivers support the family further because it is too deep to swim and too fast to use rafts. The property is not also questionable since the first Peralta family were one of the first families to settle in the city. The land is considered inherited property.

Talking about the mighty rivers, good thing the grandfather of Marcia designed this city to incorporate the rivers. It might not be like the Veniz where people travel through canals throughout the city. Dos Rios was designed to complement the rivers by creating dams at the far end of the city. It generates clean energy that powers almost half of the city's household population. It helps people who are earning below-average income.

Come to think of it, not talking about their house to other people is just an unspoken rule. The Peralta children got used to having playdates and celebrating their birthdays at a house that was built a few meters away from their brass gate. I have been there. It's a perfectly centered, two-story Victorian-style house wherein the white wall paint stands out well with the red asphalt shingle roof. There are a lot of windows but no balcony. In truth, it is where most of the henchmen take a rest. They also make sure that the house is properly maintained if any Peralta family member needs it to entertain guests.

When you take a walk and go to the back of the house, there's a mini pool intended for kids. It's about ten meters wide and 5 meters deep. You will already be astounded by this house but when you stare just beyond the cypress trees neatly planted a few steps away from the pool, you would see a brown brick mansion with solid black roof shingles. That's the time that you would notice the beautiful cedar picket fence outstretched behind the trees. I have also been there and it's a marvelous home for sure. It is also where Scarlet lived for a week.

Scarlet once told me why there's a decoy house in front of the Peralta residence. She said it when I was training her and she mentioned it out of the blue. I was thinking maybe she was just amazed by her discovery. But I guess in my old age, I was not already surprised with her revelation.

"They don't want people to know about the escape tunnel and the bunker."

"Young girl, ya'll better not be spilling secrets of our boss or you'll be punished. That includes me. I want to die of natural causes. Lung cancer would be my obvious choice."

"You're the only person I trust. I never told anybody about it."

"Now that's sweet but don't go poking your nose around and you might get caught the next time."

"I already started my spy training just before you told me to." She did have a point there. I promised to boss Luca that my Moon Escorts will be the best asset he has and I oversold my sales pitch. Boss Luca has been expecting me to deliver news to him every time my escorts get clients.

As I think about it, maybe she wanted to have a break from memorizing the types of wines and hors d'oeuvres. I might have also added proper wine tasting in the lesson. No wonder she got bored. I got bored myself when it was taught to us in college. I was only pumped up because I was the one teaching and I can smoke at the balcony while listening to her recite what wine goes to every hors d'oeuvres. Hospitality management is not a course for hyper people, I tell you that.

Anyway, she did not let go of the topic. She wanted to talk more. Being curious about what more she has to say, I allowed it.

"Okay, smart ass. Tell me how you have come to that conclusion." I never knew that in her one-week stay at the mansion, she got to memorize all she saw even the tiniest details that seem irrelevant to some people.

I remember how Scarlet took a deep breath first then took a paper and pen that were on my bedside table and started scribbling at the back of my shopping list.

She made a rough sketch of the mansion's floor plan. I watched her as she drew lines and made circles for twenty minutes while talking. To be honest, I did not catch everything that she was talking about while she's drawing. One thing's for sure. She has keen attention to detail and can read people.

The highlights that I could tell you are; one, the entrance to the escape route is at boss Luca's room and the end of it is near somewhere around the neighboring city. Two, the bunker's entrance is at the old oak tree in the backyard. Three, boss Luca uses non-verbal signals when he wants to order something from his subordinates but he feels exposed.

"He snaps his fingers when he orders someone to be killed. He taps the table once if he needs more information and twice if he wants to meet someone at the decoy house."

I was astonished at how well she gathered that information. Well done for a ten-year-old. The information she has given me was not my main concern. I wanted to know how she gathered the data that she's provided.

"How were you not caught?"

"Marcia's spoiled son doesn't like me so I used it to my advantage. I pretend to stray away acting like I'm a poor girl trying to fit in."

"Hey, mind your manners, young lady." I always smack her hands with a ruler when she says something inappropriate. Her face would just twitch but she wouldn't make a sound.

"I'm sorry. I mean, Madam Marcia's spoiled son Michael." I nodded and let her continue talking.

She first talked about how the flow of the river behind the mansion was different. When you go to the music room which is located just above the mafia boss' room, you can see straight outside the window the river's weird flow like it's passing through a big bump below the surface. She didn't disclose how she figured out that it's an escape tunnel. Maybe she knew that people of their caliber need something like it.

As for the bunker, when Michael was telling her that he doesn't like her to be his sister during lunch, she walked out and went out to the backyard. She sat at one of the oak tree's big roots and noticed a fake rock. She was about to touch it when Marcia called out her name. She knew that something's there so she feigned ignorance and tried to put up a sad, crying face as a façade and as revenge on Michael. She scared me a bit when she said those. She's reminded me of my nieces and nephews when they want to get something ridiculous.

For the last point she made, she pieced the events that led to the owner of a bar in the eastern side of the city whose "gone missing" – she said it while doing air quotes.

Aside from the fact that I now have a talented girl, Michael's approach toward her piqued my interest.

"Hey, enough about being an old man trapped in a young girl's body. Let's talk about Michael. Ain't he a dear?"

"Not really. I'm taller than him and yet, he's older. He's a mama's boy and all he talks about is his collection of toy cars. I'm waiting for the mafia boss to snap his finger when Michael talks about his toys."

"I think he's just nervous around you. Perhaps the reason why he said that he doesn't want to be your sister is that he wanted you to be his lover," I joked as I elbowed her. She did not budge. She's busy looking at her drawing.

I was about to tell her that we need to go back to our lesson when someone knocked on the door. She quickly hid her drawing by placing it below the mattress. As I walked to the door, someone spoke behind it.

"Mama Luna, I was told you're here." It was Jackson. His baritone voice makes it easy for me to distinguish.

"I'm coming!" I glanced at Scarlet and she's still sitting. I motioned her to stand beside me as I flicked the lock and turned the doorknob. She was quick to move and she's already beside me as I greet Jackson.

"Hello, Jackson. Good afternoon!"

"Good afternoon, Mr. Peralta." Scarlet greeted shyly. She told me how she presented herself as a shy girl to the Peralta family the day she returned to the hotel.

"Hello, Mama." He tipped his hat and he looked at Scarlet, "There's no need for formality, dear. Just call me Jackson."

Surprisingly, Scarlet smiled and tugged my shirt trying to hide her face. I want to clap for her performance but I had no time for that. I wanted to know why Michael is with Jackson on a Saturday afternoon.

"Good afternoon to you, Michael. How's your mother?" I made my voice louder because he's few meters away from us and he's looking at his shoes. What a cute fellow.

"She's fine, Mama Luna."

"Mama Luna, I don't want to bother you but Marcia told me that to bring Michael here to play with Scarlet. She wanted to accompany him personally but she needs to visit his father." I felt Scarlet as she tightened her grip on my shirt. I slowly reached out to her hand and held it. She then noticed it and she removed her hand from my shirt.

She then changed her attitude toward Michael.