Belly Literary Universe (part 2)

Cozca's Devils part 15: Intervention

"They have X-rays, Jackie... This was your job. You told us they only had metal detectors!" Kelri texted the group with furious taps. "How the hell did you miss that?"

Jacki wiped sweat from her brow and replied. "My information was accurate as of two week ago. They must be new. Brand new."

Kelri continued her anger. "That's super convenient. Maybe someone set us up. I wonder who it could have been? Any ideas?"

"It wasn't me!" Jackie replied. "If I was going to turn on you it wouldn't be like this. Not so easily traceable. Not so apparent. And not before you've done the actual deed."

Maia chimed in. "It doesn't matter. It's what we have to deal with. And this situation was explicitly why I was brought along. I'll try to figure something out. Someone else needs to handle Hugo."

And then a moment later Camilla jumped in. "Hugo is the blonde guy I see walking through the crowd? Is that right?"

A few people confirmed the identity of their former boss.

"And it's super important that he not be around?" Camilla clarified again.

Kelri was the one to reply. "Yeah. if you've got some way to distract him then do it."

"As a matter of fact I think I do," Camilla texted.

***

Maia slid her phone into her purse pocket, stood and walked straight at Myre. Gently she wrapped her arms around her waist, carefully caressing the sides of her apron covered stomach and whispering in her ear. "It's time to move Myre, follow my lead."

Being touched in public made Myre jump then laugh. "Oh. Okay!"

"They have X-rays -" Maia whispered.

"Yeah I saw that. You have an idea?" Myre asked.

"Hah. Not much of one. But yes. We're going to talk our way through with feminine wiles."

***

Camilla stood and pushed through the crowd. She called out Hugo's name, but Veera's performance drowned her out. Out of desperation, she slid through the side of gathered people then jogged up behind him, catching him only a few steps from the first security gate. "Hugo darling. Just wait a minute!"

Hugo's blonde pony tail smacked against his shoulder as he turned on his heel. He was focused. Angry. But seeing her made him cock his head. "I know you. Carmen, wasn't it."

"It's Camilla dear."

"Yes! That was it," He turned around the rest of the way.

Camilla took a moment to catch her breath from the short run. "I knew it was you in the crowd," she said, trying to lay on her girlish charm with a toothy smile.

"Indeed it's me. Listen, I'm sorry Camilla, but I'm in a bit of a rush..."

***

Maia and Myre rolled the ice cream cart up to the side of the second security gate.

Myre tried halfheartedly to just confidently push through, but the hefty security guard strapped with equipment stopped her. "Woah there miss', got to go through the scanner."

Myre looked over at the booths. "Oh. They're very small. My cart won't fit through. I thought this was the manual search entrance."

The guard chuckled. "Yeah, they're a bit tiny. It's no problem though; we have a larger mobile scanner for situations just like this. Hey! Bert! Bring over the big scanner."