She kept him behind the desk for maybe 1 minute. Clare spoke too quickly. Tagging personal items is standard procedure. Officer Mercer looked at the bear. Then where is the tag?
No tag hung from its ribbon. Clare's gaze dropped. Officer Hayes asked Nia to describe the employee. Brown hair, glasses, and a white mark shaped like a moon on her hand. Mercer relayed the description to the captain.
While the flight deck contacted Baltimore, Hayes ordered everyone near row three to keep their hands visible. Celeste pointed at the bracelet on the floor. Why are we discussing paperwork? My property came out of that child's bear. A bear someone opened before departure, Hayes replied.
That is only her story. Zuri lifted her phone. Mine is on video. Clare stepped toward her. The phone may be connected to that device.
It's an airplane mode. Children know how to hide applications. Officer Hayes blocked Clare again. You will not take the phone. Officer Mercer used a metal beverage container to isolate Mr. Buttons without pressing the blinking device.
The red light stopped as the bear entered the container. The seat screens remained black. Then new words appeared. Transfer paused. Physical access required.
Captain Nathan Cole's voice came through the speakers. Ladies and gentlemen, remain seated. An unauthorized device has contacted the cabin entertainment system. There is no indication of interference with the aircraft's flight controls. Passengers did not relax.
A man in row 4 demanded that the twins be restrained. Another passenger began filming them. Nia lowered her face behind the teddy bear until Zuri took her hand. Don't listen, Zuri whispered. They think we did it.
Then we make them look at what happened, not what they think. Zuri opened her recording. The video began with clouds. The window reflection showed Nia holding Mr. Buttons and Celeste wearing the blue bracelet. Officer Hayes watched the timer.
Nia never entered the aisle. The bear never left her arms. At 11 minutes and 8 seconds, Clare stopped beside the twins and told Zuri to stop recording. Her yellow uniform blocked most of the reflection for 7 seconds. Before those 7 seconds, Celeste's bracelet was visible.
After them, her wrist was bare. Hayes paused the video. The bracelet vanished while you blocked the camera. Clare remained still. That does not show how it entered the bear.
No, Zuri said, "But it proves Nia didn't go near Celeste." Officer Mercer looked at Clare. You claimed you saw her beside that seat. I may have confused her movement with something I saw earlier. You threatened to arrest her based on it. Clare's eyes moved towards Celeste.
Celeste looked away. Zuri replayed the 7-second obstruction in slow motion. Clare's right hand remained near the phone. Her left arm dipped behind Nia's seat. Officer Hayes examined the headrest.
A strand of tan stuffing clung to its metal edge. The same color as the stuffing exposed inside Mr. Buttons. Clare stepped backward. That proves nothing. Nia pointed at Clare's left hand.