Waterworks (H2O Just Add Water) 🌊

64. Crime and Punishment

I don't own this GIF. All of the credit goes to the original creator. I imagined Jai Courtney as one of the criminals involved in the counterfeiting that Zoey encounters along with Rikki.

I had just been shopping for a few gifts for Rikki even though Cleo and Bella tasked me with keeping her occupied while they planned her party along with Lewis and Zane. Despite Rikki being caught up with bills for keeping the cafe running, I used that moment to head into town for gift shopping and found a few things that said her name. 

Plus, I wanted to contribute and prove to Rikki that I thought about her. Grandma had given me some money to help with purchasing Rikki's gifts since I was watching my account and keeping how much, I spent my money to a minimum. Patrick had the day off and tagged along with me to help find the right gifts for Rikki.

The plan was to hold Rikki's party in the cavern, which was the perfect place for our group. Also, Emma had shipped a package with a note telling me the contents in it were all for Rikki. It had arrived a couple of days earlier which gave me time to put it together to make presentable for her.

After getting done with the shopping, Patrick hauled Rikki's gifts over to Mako Island while I met up with Cleo and Bella at the cafe just as the two of them came out of Rikki's office. Sophie asked them if anything was going on and called herself a friend of Rikki's. I found that odd since she didn't interact with the four of us much, especially since she seemed to not like Bella interacting with Will.

After Cleo and Bella left to help Lewis and Zane decorate the cavern, I ordered a peach mango smoothie wanting to be a courteous customer while I waited for Rikki to get done.

"Hey, Zoey," Sophie spoke up after taking my order, "Do you know if anything is going on?"

"What makes you say that?" I wondered not feeling comfortable with interacting with her alone.

"Well, since you're close mates with Rikki, Cleo, and Bella, it's obvious that you all are planning for something later on."

"Not much is happening."

I was ready to end the conversation knowing Sophie can be extremely pushy. Thankfully, my smoothie was ready, and she left me alone. 

That was a close one! I thought and sipped my drink.

🌊

Rikki came out of her office and asked Sophie for all of the money in the cash register to finish the accounts. Just as Sophie was about to hand her the till, one of the waiters accidentally spilled water in it. The former apologized to Rikki and the latter forgave her saying that she would handle the till. Sophie offered to put all of the printed accounts back in the office for her.

I got up from my seat and went over to the counter as I finished my smoothie knowing Rikki would instantly dry up the till with her power. At the same time, I glanced at the office door knowing Sophie was in there.

Rikki had a confused expression as she stared at the till.

"Is everything alright?" I wondered.

She pulled out a couple of $50 bill that looked like they were burnt at the edge. It confirmed to both of us that they were counterfeit. Rikki went to her office while I waited at the counter. I had a bad feeling about it. She came back a few seconds later set to head out.

"I'll go with you," I offered as I followed her out of the cafe.

"You don't have to, Zo," Rikki shook her head.

"Since it's fake cash, there's bound to be some counterfeiting operation going on around here. Besides, it's better to be safe in numbers if anything goes wrong."