The Hubble Identity 6
Chapter 6
Undercover
Mildred blushed at the complement. Jason offered her his arm. His father smiled as his wife took his arm.
"okay you two lovely ladies." He said, "Shall we go?"
Toni and Mildred nodded and they all set off for the exhibit's grand opening. 30 minutes later they were walking into the museum. They met up with other local big shots who were all decked out in tuxedoes and trying to look as important as they could.
After exchanging polite greetings with several of the other guests they walked into the exhibit hall. There the center of the room in the midst of an impressive collection of gold coins antique jewelry on other valuables was the Dragon's eye. He was set in its own display case and flanked by two uniformed officers.
Jason and his father spotted Sgt Murtaugh and few seconds later. He was in full dress uniform; strutting around and trying to act more important than he was.
"I'm guessing that's Murtaugh," said Mildred
"Bingo," Replied Jason. a split second later Murtaugh spotted Jason and his father. His smile disappeared, and he strode over to them.
"Steele." He said Glaring at Jason's father. Jason's father returned the glare.
"Murtaugh." He growled back not showing a trace of fear.
"So that pansy Stillman went and hired you anyway." Murtaugh Sneered, "Even though I told him I and my men could handle it!"
"Sneer and glare all you want to Murtaugh," snapped Jim, "Yes Stillman hired me! So, I'm here, and there's nothing you can do about it!"
Before Murtaugh could react, Jason's mother got between him and her husband.
"Alright boys you've thrown around enough testosterone for one evening," she snapped, "Jim dear, you've got a job to do, and Murtaugh you'd better get back to yours. Because, you know full well that if anything happens to that diamond, that'll be one screw up that your big shot uncle at the state capital won't be able to sweep under the rug!"
This seemed to take some of the fight out of Murtaugh and bring him to his senses. He stalked off to check on his men without another word.
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Enid and Maud snuck back into the potions lab after classes had ended for the day. They pulled out all the ingredients that they had gathered and began mixing the truth potion.
That jumped a couple times when they heard footsteps approach and then pass by in the hall. Finally, after what seemed like hours but was really only about ten minutes the potion turned and light blue. This was the indication that it was ready.
They filled the two vials they had brought with it, then cleaned out the cauldron and put it away so as to leave no trace that they had been there.
The girls still didn't draw an easy breath until they had made it back to their room with the vials.
"You know," said Maud, "We still have to figure out away to get Ethel to take the potion."
"You right," said Enid, "It's not like we can walk up, hand it to her and say bottoms up, Ethel."
"Yeah," said Maud, "Ethel may be sneaky and vindictive but she's not stupid."
The girls fell silent for several seconds. The wheels turning in their heads. Suddenly Enid said,
"I've got it!"
"What?" asked Maud
"Let's put it in her food at the next meal!" said Enid, "She'll never see it coming that way!"
"But, how," said Maud, "The cooks are the only one's who have access to the food before it's put on the trays."
"But not the drinking cups," said Enid, "They're always on the table and Ethel is, Like the rest of us, a creature of habit!"
"Meaning, she always sits in the same place." Said Maud, "all one of us has to do is distract Ethel long enough for one of us to pour it in her drink!"
Almost as quickly as her excitement grew it faded.
"Wait a minute," she said shaking her head, "I hate to be a negative Nancy, but it won't work."
"Why not?!" said Enid
"The teachers," Replied Maud, "they eat at that raised table remember, we could never get away with dosing Ethel in front of them!"
Enid deflated,
"You're right." She said, "we've got to find some way to keep the faculty from seeing us too."
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Mildred had all but forgotten her dreams of the previous night as she and Jason mingled with the other guests. She and Jason were looking at a beautiful sapphire necklace in one of the other display cases when suddenly they heard a feminine voice behind them that wasn't Jason's mother.
"Why Jason Steele, you, handsome devil, is that you?"
Jason gave a barely perceptible flinch and the sound of the voice. Then he slowly squared his shoulders and turned around.
"Hello, Misty," he said evenly.
"We don't tell me that you're hear by yourself." She said flirtatiously
"No, he's not!" said Mildred quickly, as she grabbed his hand.
Misty's flirtatious smile disappeared. It was replaced by one of forced politeness.
"Oh, I see," she said, her surprised and jealous tone of voice betraying the fact that this was not a turn of events that she had counted on.
"Well, excuse me," she said before curtly walking off
"Who or what was that?" asked Mildred after Misty had walked off.
"That was Michelle 'Misty' Walker," replied Jason, "Her father is the CEO of one of the biggest Corporate banks in town so she's always at these types of functions."
"She sure seems to have her cap set for you," observed Mildred.
Jason groaned and nodded
"Yeah she's been a pain in my neck since the 7th grade." He grumbled, "Thanks for coming to my rescue there by the way." He added.
"You're welcome." Replied Mildred with a smile. She took his arm again as they started walking. They hadn't gone more than a few steps with they came face to face with a lady with a camera in her hands.
"Hi," she said, "I'm Blair Martin from the Miami Chronicle I'm taking pictures for my article on the exhibit, may I take your picture?!"
"Might not be a bad Idea." He whispered to Mildred, "There website is visible all over the world, Maybe, someone will recognize you."
Mildred nodded and arm in arm they smiled for the camera.
#########
Maud and Enid were pacing in their room. They only had a few minutes before the supper bell would ring.
Then they would be expected to show up in the dining hall. But they had more important things than food on their minds. Namely figuring out how to drug Ethel without getting busted by the teachers.
Enid suddenly stopped short.
"Wait a minute," she said, "Maybe the solution is Magical but practical!"
` "What do you mean?" asked Maud
"The lights in the Mess Hall," said Enid, "The breaker box is in the Janitor closet. You position yourself near Ethel's table, then with the lights go out empty the vial into her cup!"
"That might just work," said Maud nodding, "But how am I supposed to see where the cup is in the dark?"
Enid went over to her satchel and pulled out a metal tin. Opening it she handed Maud what looked like a mint.
"My mother made these," said Enid, "Make sure this is in your mouth when the lights go out and it will give you the ability to see in the dark!"
Maud nodded, and they headed for the mess hall.
To Be Continued… Please Read and Review