Belly Literary Universe (part 2)

Cozca's Devils part 6: Horizon

Jackie lingered just around the corner of Valerie's desk. With all the fear and anger in her mind over all the secretive business, there was also a genuine sadness and remorse about how she left Valerie. With a heavy swallow, she turned the corner, and knocked on the hard metal edge of the cubical wall. "I fucked up." She announced. "I might have overreacted a bit and I'm sorry."

Valerie swiveled around, arms crossed. As usual her face didn't give away her emotions. After a few moments, she turned up the metal on her radio to give them cover sound. "I wanted to string you along. Say 'sorry for what?' but that's not me. You have legitimate reasons to be upset. And surprised. And distrustful. All I want to hear you say is that you forgive me and we can go back to - well I don't know. Something."

"Yeah. I get it. I forgive you."

Valerie smiled and took Jackie's hand and kissed it in a jokingly romantic gesture.

***

Kelri gathered the team to the now familiar enclosed pavilion at a nearby park.

Maia arrived first, followed by Camilla. Then Jackie and Valerie arrived hand in hand.

Jackie was quick to make a comment. "So we're planning on breaking the law, and doing it at a pavilion in a national park?"

Before anyone could answer, Veera Deva walked in with a stylish hat, sparkling mini dress, and a fancy coffee filled thermos. "I'm cool with it all being in public. At least this part. Makes it easy for me to show up. Like, I can just call it a small fan gathering or something."

"Uhh, Camilla and Valerie you've already met, but Jackie, Maia, and Connor - This is Veera Deva," Kelri said, gesturing to the new arrival.

Connor kept his cool by sealing the doors while taking quick glances. A devilish look crossed Maia's face - a look Kelri was familiar with. But ironically, Valerie seemed the most excited despite already having met her.

Jackie's jaw dropped. "What is happening here!" She shouted. "You all are planning a heist and now you have a celebrity helping out? That changes things!"

Kelri shrugged. "Not really. She's the spear point of the distraction team."

Veera smiled and curtsied.

Jacki massaged her temples with her hand. With a back handed wave, she continued talking. "Okay. Whatever. But we're seriously doing this planning in a public place?"

Kelri nodded. "Yep. This place doesn't have any cameras in it and it's not likely someone knows enough to set up surveillance in this rickety old shack."

Camilla coughed from the dust in the air. "This is all nice 'n all, but I don't really get why I need to be here. I'm just making the clothes. Have it mostly planned out already and everything."

Kelri stood up and paced with slow deliberate steps like it was a business meeting. "Well now that we're all here," She said, eschewing Camilla's protest. She intended to circle back to it but had other topics to cover first. "A team introduction is due I think. Camilla, Valerie, and Veera. You're the distraction team. Jackie, you and I are part of the infiltration team."

Maia raised her hand. "And me? And your boyfriend?"

"You two are part of the roaming team. So are Camilla and Valerie once everything is set for the operation. You'll be responsible for dealing with crises as they arise - if they arise."

Camilla raised her hand. "I'm just a clothier. A tailor. I don't know what use -"

"I need all of you present because you all need to know the plan. We all have expertise somewhere. And I don't want something going missed just because you weren't at a meeting. What may be a simple detail to any of you may easily get missed by the rest."