Clare faced Officer Mercer. I personally saw the girl with the bear leaning near Ms. Rowan's seat. Zuri stared at her. Seconds earlier, Clare had asked whether they left their seats. Now she claimed to have witnessed it.
Officer Mercer asked which girl she meant. Clare pointed at Nia. That was when Zuri raised her phone. My recording started 11 minutes before the accusation. Clare stepped toward her.
Put down that phone and hand me the teddy bear. The stolen bracelet is somewhere in your row. Mia's fear hardened into suspicion. You already know where it is. That's why you chose us before you even searched.
Clare threatened them with handcuffs. Zuri showed the recording time. Then explain why my video began before that woman said her bracelet was missing. For one second, Celeste and Clare looked at each other. Zuri caught it.
Clare immediately called the officers forward. Search them now and arrest them if they resist. Officer Hayes blocked her. You do not decide who gets arrested. But as Clare reached toward Mr. Buttons, Nia pulled back.
The bear's ribbon caught on the metal armrest. Fabric tore beneath his left arm. A diamond bracelet dropped from inside the teddy bear and struck the floor between Officer Mercer's shoes. The cabin fell silent. Nia stared at the open seam.
I didn't put that there. Clare stepped away as if the child had become dangerous. Celeste pointed at the bracelet. That's mine. Arrest them.
Officer Mercer crouched without touching it. The opening in the bear looked wrong. The thread had not snapped. It had been cleanly cut. Zuri saw something else inside the stuffing.
A black device no larger than a matchbox blinked red behind the torn seam. Officer Hayes ordered everyone to remain seated. Clare said the device proved the twins had planned the theft. "Then why are you the only person who knew where to look?" Zuri asked. Before Clare answered, every first class screen went black.
The twin seat numbers appeared across them. 3A 3B 3 A 3B. Zuri's phone vibrated even though it was in airplane mode. An unknown sender had replied to the copy of her video. Do not let them connect that device to the plane.
It is not recording you. It is searching for something hidden in your travel file. Zuri looked at the sealed yellow pouch beneath her jacket. The tamper strip was still intact, but the name printed on it had changed. It no longer identified Zuri and Nia Brooks.
It now listed two different children. According to the airlines official record, the twins in seats 3A and 3B had never boarded flight 218. The names on the yellow pouch were Ethan and Lily Ward. Zuri had never heard of them. Officer Hayes examined the seal without touching it.
Was this pouch out of your possession? No, Zuri said. It has been under my jacket since boarding. Who gave it to you? A woman at the assistance desk.
Nia looked up sharply. She took Mr. Buttons, too. Zuri turned to her. When when you filled our water bottles, she said he needed an airline tag. Nia touched the torn seam.