All Friends Check-In (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody)

11. To Catch a Thief

Uncle Marion called for an emergency staff meeting. Although I was not a hotel employee, I attended because I was familiar with its operations. More importantly, I was entrusted with sensitive and confidential information, a trust I would never betray by repeating a word. 

I sat in the back of the ballroom, a silent observer among the dedicated staff members who had all shown up.

"All right. Let's begin," Uncle Marion called once everyone was present, and the room went quiet. "I need your full and undivided attention. Now, what I am about to say must be held in the strictest confidence. You may or may not know this, but--"

"Is it about the jewel thieves?" Muriel interrupted him.

Lately, there have been news reports of break-ins and valuables stolen by the thieves. The police had been trying to catch them for a while. Uncle Marion feared that the crime series would have a massive effect on the hotel business and cause the guests to worry that they would have their things stolen.

"Ok, you know this," Uncle Marion nodded. "But what you don't know is-"

"The police have no leads?" Muriel inquired.

"Ok, you know that too. Would you like to run this meeting?"

"No. I'd have to stand."

"The police feel that the thieves might return. To date, they have pilfered over..."

My focus was cut off when Zack and Cody peeked out from underneath the food cart. I had to guess the twins wanted to know the juicy topic being discussed.

"If you see or hear anything suspicious, notify me immediately," Uncle Marion concluded.

"Sir?" Esteban raised a hand. "The service cart is shushing."

"Not now, Esteban." 

I noticed the bellboy talking to the twins.

"Esteban, who are you talking to?" I asked, knowing what I had seen.

"Oh, no one. There is no one here except for me and an empty cart," he replied. "Except for some very shiny grapes and a half-eaten Danish."

"Thank you, people. Return to your work," Uncle Marion called out, ending the meeting.

"Well, I'm going back to my break," Muriel remarked as she stood up. "Unless this meeting was part of my break, in which case, I'm calling the Union." She left the ballroom along with everyone else.

As I was leaving, I overheard one of the wealthy guests, who sat behind the platform and a couple of cops on the case, tell Uncle Marion that Esteban was the last person in her room before her jewels were swiped. I found that hard to believe since the bellboy was well-trusted by everyone in the hotel. 

Later, Uncle Marion and I were invited to a Bar Mitzvah. It was funny watching my uncle dance to Hora along with the guests. Next, he was pulled into a chair and lifted by a few men as if he were being celebrated. 

The Hora was cut off when Esteban and the twins tackled one of the guests assisting an arriving couple. It turned out the trio mistook the guy for a jewel thief. 

A few days later, the twins were grounded for their actions at the Bar Mitzvah and had to spend the day with Carey, who had them help her choose dresses and shoes for her next show.

Knowing Esteban wouldn't talk to them, Zack and Cody approached me and told me they identified the jewel thieves. They pointed out a few guys dressed in staff uniforms I hadn't seen before. I recalled that in some heist movies, the thieves would disguise themselves as staff of a targeted place. I didn't believe the twins, stating they needed all the facts.