The Solid Hold (The IQ Testing Book 4) Page 2

  The shop owner appears inside the room, not smiling.

  The mayor sneers at the shop owner. “Did you find the criminals, who robbed your store?”

  Lamis drops her mouth, viewing her mentor. “What criminals? What robbery?”

  The shop owner frowns, shaking her curls. “No.”

  Marsilla slides the chairs and tables around the room. She places one chair in each wall corner then two chairs in the middle of the empty room. The other eating chairs and table line the wall, out of her footpath. She motions for the shop owner and Lamis to sit inside the two chairs in the middle of the room. Then, Marsilla offers the wall corner chair to the mayor, Rincon, Nephella, and Duchie

  They sit.

  Marsilla frowns, pacing side to side in front of the two chairs, holding Lamis and the shop owner. She exhales, walking side to side, saying. “So, there has not been any progress, regarding the crime of the stolen cookies and cupcakes and cakes. What other facts have you learned about the crime, here, last week?”

  “Well, not much,” the shop owner views Marsilla.

  Lamis drops her mouth. “What stolen cookies, cupcakes, and cakes? I don’t understand.”

  Marsilla paces the room, viewing the floor. “I don’t understand, either. Therefore, we should start at the beginning.” She stops, starting at Lamis. “Last Tuesday night, the shop owner reported to Ms. Mayor, that your bakery shop had been robbed of cookies, cupcakes, and three birthday cakes. Who were the clerks working, last Tuesday night?”

  Lamis frowns. “I was.”

  Marsilla drops her mouth then smirks. “Lamis, you were working last Tuesday night, here, inside the baker shop.”

  Lamis nods. “Yes.”

  Marsilla grins. “Who else was working inside the bakery with you, Lamis, last Tuesday night?”

  “I was alone. I was learning to decorate…”

  “Did you meet any others odd strangers buying cookies, here, last Tuesday night?”

  “No. What items were stolen? I don’t understand.”

  “Did you meet any other old friends, buying cookies, here, last Tuesday night?”

  “Yes, my friends, here, in Montag.”

  “There were three cakes and several trays of cookies and cupcakes stolen, here, last Tuesday night.”

  Lamis frowns. “No. Last Tuesday night, the three birthday cakes were purchased, here, at the bakery shop…”

  The shop owner drops her mouth, viewing Lamis. “You sold those three birthday cakes in the rear of the bakery. The cakes were meant for a party, the next day.”

  Lamis smiles and nods. “No, ma’am! These particular birthday cakes were delivered the next day as ordered. I made and decorated three more birthday cakes then sold them to a customer. I have the receipt for the purchase, too.”

  The mayor frowns. “You have a receipt for the three cakes?”

  Lamis stands, walking around the bakery counters. She opens the drawer, sorting through the papers then selects the receipt. She marches around the bakery counters, presenting the receipt to her supervisor. “Here! See, I sold three birthday cakes along with collecting the proper payment of chips.”

  The shop owner studies the recipe then says. “Chip!? They paid in aluminum chips, too.”

  Lamis nods. “Yes, ma’am! They paid their entire bill for the three cakes. So, everything’s okay. Right!?”

  “Wrong!” Marsilla parks both hands on her hips, sneering. “Who received the three cakes?”

  The shop owner sneers at Marsilla. “That is a private affair of my business, young lady.”

  Marsilla sneers at the shop owner, saying. “I am the new legal technician. So, it is my affair, too. I represent the mayor’s office on official business…”

  The mayor frowns. “The criminal case has been solved. We should leave. Thank you!”

  Marsilla snarls. “Did the same customer purchase the cookies and cupcakes, as well? The bakery shop was in disarray, when we visited, here, last Wednesday morning.”

  Lamis frowns at Marsilla. “What cookies and cupcakes?”

  Marsilla nods and grins. “The chairs and tables were out of place along with numerous cookie and cupcake crumbs, everywhere. The outer shop was a mess…”

  Lamis views her supervisor. “It was?”

  The shop owner nods. “The chairs and tables were messy with eaten food and dirty dishes. I thought my shop had been robbed with a robbery.”

  Lamis gasps. “The other intern-in-training didn’t show up for work.”

  The shop owner frowns. “No. She was off that day. And, you were off that morning, too. So, I came into work, every early, finding a mess.”

  Lamis gasps. “Yes ma’am! I was. Yes ma’am! I didn’t bother cleaning up the chairs and tables, after the customers consumed the sweets then left. I’m so sorry. I should’ve done it.”

  The shop owner exhales then nods. “You should have.” She turns and views the mayor. “I am sorry for causing the confusion. Lamis didn’t clean the tables properly, making me assume a robbery.”

  The mayor nods, not smiling. “I see…”

  Marsilla frowns, shaking her pixie. “I do not see. Where’s the receipt for purchasing the numerous cookies and cupcake crumbs? You have shown a receipt for the birthday cakes. Where’s the receipt for the other desserts, the cookies and cupcakes that were consumed by mouth and tongue?”

  Lamis gasps then views Duchie.

  Duchie shakes her curls sideways. She doesn’t want Lamis to answer the question.

  Lamis smiles and nods. “Of course, I’ll find it,” she walks around the bakery counter.

  Nephella exhales. “The mystery is solved. I suggest we go back to the office, Mama.”

  Marsilla grins, standing in the middle of the room. “Do you recall the customers, who ate the rest of the tray of baked goods of cookies and cupcakes, Lamis?”

  Lamis shuffles through the papers then snaps her fingers. “I remember. The customers were all children. We give children, free cookies. That’s why I can’t find a receipt.” She nods.

  The shop owner nods and smiles. “Yes. We provided free cookies to children.”

  Marsilla grins, reading her cell. “Free cookies to children at nine o’clock at night. What type of parents would allow their children outside, on such late night hours?”

  The shop owner swings to Lamis, frowning with confusion. “We close the bakery around nine. I don’t know of any parents out that late. Are you certain, it was children?”

  Marsilla grins, walking to Lamis. “Are you certain, it wasn’t children?”

  The mayor frowns then stomps to Lamis. “If it wasn’t children then it was older children?”

  Marsilla smiles. “We’re hunting for older children, as a matter of fact…”

  Lamis gasps then views Duchie.

  Duchie shakes her curls, side to side. She doesn’t want Lamis to answer the question, also.

  Marsilla says. “As a matter of fact, we have a couple of teens, who have escaped from the outer township of Dandine. Would you happen to know that, too, Lamis?”

  The shop owner gasps. “No one can exit into the electromagnetic walls. They would die.”

  The mayor says. “Who ate the rest of the cookies and cupcakes, without paying and messing up the tables, here, last Tuesday night?”

  Marsilla nods. “You said, that there were no odd strangers, here. That means, you knew all the customers, including Hatch and Jara.”

  Lamis gasps then views Duchie.

  Duchie shakes her curls, side to side. She doesn’t want Lamis to address the question.

  The shop owner sneers. “Who ate the remaining cookies and cupcakes, Lamis?”

  The mayor sneers. “Who are you hiding, here, in Montag?”

  Lamis gasps. “I am not hiding anyone, here, in Montag. I live, alone, inside my apartment…”

  Marsilla snarls. “Hatch and Jara ate the cookies and cupcakes, when they visited you, here, last Tuesday night. Admit it? Don’t lie?”


  The shop owner snarls. “Your internship is in jeopardy, intern Lamis.”

  Lamis views the floor then Duchie. She views the mayor, nodding. “Hatch and Jara ate the cookies and cupcakes, here, last Tuesday night. I was shocked to see them…”

  The mayor gasps. “Where are they staying, here, in Montag?”

  Lamis frowns, shaking her curls. “They…they are not here. They…they returned back through the wall…”

  The mayor gasps, dropping her mouth. “Where…where did they return back through the wall?”

  “What manner did they return back through the barrier wall?” Marsilla nods and grins.

  Lamis frowns at Marsilla. “They took a travel car back through the barrier wall and then into Colfax…”

  Marsilla nods and smiles. “I was right. They are inside Colfax, after escaping from Dandine. We have them, now, Ms. Mayor…”

  The mayor nods and smiles at Marsilla. Rincon, Duchie, Nephella frown at each other. The mayor swings around, saying. “We are leaving, interns. Please, gather and load into the travel car…”

  Travel car

  The mayor frowns. “We have identified the fugitives, the pair named Hatch and Jara. Now, what? What is the next step? I have never encountered any one that has successfully escaped from the barrier wall.”

  Marsilla sits beside the mayor, smiling. “Ms. Mayor, the important question, how did they slip between the electrons of the barrier wall?”

  The mayor nods.

  Rincon frowns. “I propose that there is not any type of magic trick, slipping between the electrons of a barrier wall. There is a logical explanation, like they traveled inside a travel car…”

  Marsilla sours. “Wrong! They traveled through the barrier wall. They have created…invented a new devise. Then, the new devise will allow all the outer townships to slip through and inside Colfax, without detection. That is our purpose, find and then destroy that devise.”

  The mayor nods. “I agree. Where are they hiding out, here, in Colfax?”

  Marsilla frowns. “They could be in lots of different places. They are probably hiding inside the mall, since Jara likes to shop. Yes, I do believe that they are hiding near the mall, maybe, inside the mall.”

  The mayor frowns. “We do not have the old fashion police officers for a search and secure. So, each intern will select an area for monitoring, this afternoon, after lunch. You keep your eyes peeled for the fugitives. When they are found, we will capture them.”

  Chapter 3

  12:04 pm

  Colfax

  map room

  Rincon stands, stretching his arms, yawning. Then, he smiles. “Lunch time. I’m hungry, even the running away criminals eat food, too.” He extends his arm, winking at Duchie. “Duchie, let’s get some food, darling.”

  Duchie frowns, walking to Rincon.

  He cuddles her, whispering and smiling. “Let’s eat our lunch in the picnic grassy park on the ground level. I need some polluted air for my healthy lungs,” he chuckles, walking and exiting the map room with Duchie.

  Rincon whips out his cell, thumbing the text.

  Duchie views his working hands. “What are you doing, Rincon?”

  He exhales. “We have to warn Hatch and Jara that they’re fugitives and the mayor’s hunting them down…”

  Duchie drops her mouth, slowly walking across the bridge.

  He whispers, thumbing on the cell. “Continue walking! Don’t act so surprised!”

  Duchie says. “I am surprised. How can we help Hatch and Jara? They’re not fugitives. How did they escape from the e-field? No one escapes from the e-field. Ever!”

  Rincon walks towards the windows, scanning the interior office of the mayor. “I don’t know. But, I believe Ketona does know something more. I’ve texted her to visit us.”

  Duchie halts.

  Rincon opens the door of the interior office. Duchie enters.

  They walk together, marching down the stairs, cuddling.

  Duchie whispers. “Ya texted her for information about Hatch and Jara’s whereabouts? She won’t know. How could she know? I don’t understand.”

  Rincon smiles and nods. “I don’t understand it, either. However, the black circles are the keys to our understanding the e-fields. The black circles have expanded all over the boundaries of Montag, Dandine, and Burrville, too. Why doesn’t the mayor suspect Ketona of something sinister?”

  “Ms. Mayor thinks Ketona’s in love, over loitering inside the outer township of Burrville.”

  He nods, smiling. “Ah! That’ll work to our advantage.” Rincon chuckles, exiting the floor into the outdoors. “I feel like eating turkey. Since, Ms. Mayor will be eating crow…”

  Duchie frowns. “What turkey? What crow? What are you talking about, Rincon?”

  Rincon drags her towards the food vendor. “I would like two turkey sandwich plates, please.” He places the aluminum chips onto the eating counter then receives the plates. He grabs then slowly swings, walking towards the picnic table.

  He places both trays on the table then assists Duchie around the table. He sits, cutting up the food.

  Duchie scans the picnic area. There are tall trees, wooden eating tables with benches, patches of grass, not walking signs, and no sight of Ketona. She frowns. “You said that Ketona is joining us here. She can’t do that.”

  He swallows, smiling. “Yeah, she can.” He eats.

  Burrville

  12:05 pm

  Farm

  hot. 95% humidity. sunny. no clouds. no rain. 101°F

  I hover in the air inside the flier, giggling and sweating inside my cowgirl hat. I sail around the air, like a bird, observing the me-chee farmers, like a hawk. I soar around the orange dust clouds, wearing my protective hat, scarf, gloves and jumpsuit, plus a pair of sunglasses. The sunglasses block the sun and the dust from my tender eyeballs.

  The me-chees are doing an excellent job, farming and steering the tractors.

  I decide to leave the me-chees to the job, flying and then landing in front of my house. I unload from the flier then strip off my dirty jumpsuit.

  I enter my house.

  Hatch and Jara are eating lunch. Jara scoots the plate toward Ketona. “Made some lunch for ya! Enjoy!”

  I giggle, sitting in my shorts and naked feet at the bar. I chew then swallow. “Buffo’s sick along with the kin-folks. I got the me-chee machines, doing the plowing and planting.”

  Hatch laughs. “These machines come in handy, besides being expensive storage decorations. I don’t understand. Why can’t the me-chee machines perform all the manual labor throughout all the outer townships? Then, all the humans could live in peace and harmony…”

  I chew. “The Establishment…”

  Jara chews. “The Establishment…”

  “The Establishment.” I chew and nod.

  I swallow the food. “Alright! The machines are doing the heavy work. I need your help with food preparation, moving the…”

  Jara chews. “Get the me-chees to do it!”

  I swallow the food, nodding. “Yeah!” I chew the food, when my cell dings. I frown, lifting devise into my face, reading the text message, frowning with more confusion.

  Jara gasps, viewing Ketona. “Ya got a cell, here. How? Where? When? I want one, too.”

  I swallow the food, placing the cell into my pocket. “Ugh! I got…my mama sent it. My mama texts me, only. Yeah, my mama’s texting me, only, right now. My mama’s going to visit me, later, next month, next holiday. I mean this holiday. Well, I gotta run back and check on the me-chee farmers. Don’t wanna ‘em growing peas, instead of cotton!” I slide off the chair, without clearing my plate.

  Jara can perform that task, being bored inside the house.

  Jara frowns. “Can I use your cell to call my mama?”

  Hatch pats her hand. “We aren’t allowed to do that, darling.”

  “I don’t care. I wanna talk to my mama. Ketona talks to her mama. I wanna talk to my mama, too.” Jara sobs then cries.
She slides off the stool, marching to her room.

  Hatch cringes then views Ketona. “Sorry, Ketona! She’s upset about being here.”

  I nod and smile at Hatch. “I completely understand.” I dash outside, strapping on flier. I ignite the engines, lifting off the ground. I soar around the farm, viewing the me-chees on top of the tractors. Then, I swing around, flying towards the wall corners of Burrville and Colfax.

  Rincon has texted, requesting a brief meeting.

  I feel both anxious and curious. I’m appreciative that Duchie brought my personal cell from my bedroom, when she visited Burrville, last week. Duchie is staying with my parents, until her internship has finished.

  I exhale, feeling confused with the text request from Rincon, wondering if the text is regarding my parents. Then, I exhale, feeling panic.

  12:16 pm

  barrier wall Dandine and Burrville

  I sail around the farm, twice, before landing. I don’t see any nosy farm neighbors. However, that event would be very unusual, since the individual farms are miles apart. I land, stripping off the flier. I lay the flier on the dirt then walk towards the barrier wall.

  I look behind my collar bone, both right and left, seeing no spying farms or wandering me-chees. I exhale, kneeling in the dirt in my farm uniform, also.

  I slide out one of the refrigerator magnetic strips then raise my hand high above my head. I stop, whispering. “Naw, now! Rincon has a secret message for me, not a fun chat.” I lower the magnetic strip even with my chest, positioning the magnetic below my hat and covered face, in case, someone on the other side of Colfax sees any orange movement.

  I exhale, slowly stabbing the magnetic into the orange e-field. The hole opens. I wiggle the strip side to side, expanding the opening about the size of a folded fist. I see golden colored back muscles. Duchie wears her golden dress. Rincon wears his golden vest. I whisper through the opening inside the wall. “Rincon. Ketona, I’m behind your back…”

  12: 17 pm.

  Colfax

  map room

  Marsilla smiles, walking towards the closed door.