Act 2: Charmed and Dangerous

Ed waited at the Safety Patrol HQ for Fillmore to finally return with Ingrid after "arresting" her. In actuality, he was gathering her for a debriefing without arising suspicion from the rest of the Red Robins. He waited for them until they sat at their respective desks and Vallejo joined them.

"So how did it go?" Ed asked.

"Pretty convincing, I'd say." Ingrid said.

"I'll say." Fillmore said. "The handball move was good. Painful, but good. I'm just glad you're on our side."

"I had to make it look legit," Ingrid said, "Like I was actually getting busted. But don't think it wasn't fun."

"The big question," Vallejo said, "Did you find the vault?"

"Not yet."

"Any chance it could be in their clubhouse?"

"I saw six massage chairs, a smoothie bar, hand-blown Venetian chandeliers they acquired in one of their eight trips to Europe. They're all prizes from a record-breaking, albeit ill-gotten taffy sales."

"'Albeit'?" Vallejo asked.

"It means 'even though'." Ed said. "For example, this headquarters here is bright, albeit a little bland for my taste."

"I'm still looking for the vault, Vallejo." Ingrid said. "Did I mention they have a smoothie bar?"

"Yes." Everyone replied.

"Ed's right though. This place could use some decorating." Ingrid said. "You should take a page out of their book. Anyway, I better go. I don't wanna rouse suspicion."

When Ingrid left the room, Vallejo looked suspicious. He then turned to Ed. "Hey, Ed, you notice anything in Third's undercover job? Anything strange maybe?"

Ed shrugged. "Just that she adapted into the role pretty well."

"Hold up." Fillmore said. "Vallejo, did you send Ed to spy on Ingrid?"

"I had to." Vallejo said. "She likes playing Red Robin. She likes it a lot."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ed asked.

"Maybe something. Maybe nothing. Just keep up the work, Nygma."

After picking Ingrid up, the Red Robins lead her back to the clubhouse. There, she was surprised to find a very wide variety of balloons, banners, and streamers for her. Rosa just finished setting up the last balloon before noticing Ingrid was there. She smiled and joined Malika and the others into welcoming her to their party.

"All this is for me?" Ingrid asked in disbelief.

"We saw what you did." Malika said with pride. "The way you led that belt into the handball court. Your athletic, albeit wily moves."

"You use albeit too?" Ingrid asked feeling drawn in.

"Belt?" Rosa asked.

"It's what we call those Safety Patrol chumps trying to expose us." Fionula said.

"Don't mind Rosa. She's only been here a couple of weeks." Sinead suggested to Ingrid.

"I'll keep that in mind." Ingrid said. "I don't understand though. Why all this just for me?"

"See all this?" Malika asked as she waved her hand around the room. She was gesturing to all the fancy decorations and comfortable appliances around the room. "All this exists because we are a team. We stick together, back each other up no matter what. That's what it takes to be number one. The thing is, sometimes you might be asked to do something like forge an order sheet and stick someone with taffy they never ordered. And you would have to do it, for the good of the team. Understand?"

"I understand." Ingrid answered.

"Cool. I knew you would." Malika said pointing a video camera to her troop. "Now, smile."

Ingrid gave a little smile while the other girls joined her in the shot. But in the back, Rosa stared at Ingrid and let out a soft frown while looking at the ground.

Ed was walking along the X Middle School hallways with his hands in his pockets. He stopped walking when he noticed the Red Robins walking along the far end of the hallway, including Ingrid. Curious, he continued to follow them while being careful not to be seen. He hid himself behind the lockers while listening in on Malika's teachings.

"From here all the way down to J Building is our territory."

Malika said before stopping herself and her troop. She fixed her eyes at a table set up by a familiar classmate: Jamie, the student who got an invitation instead of Ingrid and Ed earlier.

"Well, well. Looks like we have an interloper." Malika said before going to confront Jamie. "What are you selling?"

"Wrapping paper, the stuff dreams are wrapped in." Jamie said pulling out a pink roll and spreading it across his table. "What are you looking for?"

"For you to get lost." Malika snapped. "You're in a Red Robin hallway."

"Oh, snoogies." Jamie responded nervously gathering up all the wrapping paper into his arms. "I am so, so sorry. I'll leave right away. I'll never return. I'll buy your taffy."

"It's too late for that." Malika swiped a roll of wrapping paper and offered it to Ingrid. "Ingrid, you want to do the honors?"

Ingrid looked around the other Red Robins. Most of them smiled and nodded, but Rosa just gave her a blank look that had a hint of worry. Still, with a smile, Ingrid took the paper and quickly wrapping it around Jamie's whole body while Malika recorded it on her camera. When she was done, Malika lowered her camera and stared proudly with her own bare eyes.

"Amazing. You know, with that technique, the way you didn't even hesitate, you know where you belong?"

"Where?" Ingrid asked, although her smile indicated she already knew the answer.

"Right here."

Ingrid planted a yellow bow on top of Jamie's wrapped head and walked away with the other girls. Once they were gone, Ed emerged from his hiding place and stared at Jamie with a concerned look on his face.

"Well, he certainly deserves it for that long-winded speech," Ed said, "But something doesn't seem right about this picture."

"And she did it all with a smile on her face." Ed told Vallejo and Fillmore at the commissioner's office. "No hesitation. No remorse."

"It's getting worse than I thought." Vallejo said. "Ingrid might be in over her head."

"What do you mean?" Ed asked.

"You like riddles, Nygma." Vallejo said. "Well, try this out: when is an act not an act?"

"When it's for real." Ed answered. "You're saying she might not just be playing Red Robin anymore?"

"From the way you described, it sounds like she's on that route."

"Sounds like she's just playing a part." Fillmore said. "She was just making her act look good."

"You wanna know the truth?" Vallejo asked. "I didn't want to put Ingrid on that case. Not because she's new, but because she's different. She ain't the most popular girl in school, you know."

"None of us are." Ed said. "People find my riddles annoying, you lead the Safety Patrol, and Fillmore here is constantly probated by the student council president."

"He's right, Vallejo." Fillmore said. "Neither of us are exactly Mr. Popular."

"It's not just she's a misfit." Vallejo said. "Ingrid doesn't run with the crowd. Now, she's got one. You're friends, you're close, and I thought that was enough. And the thing is, I made a mistake before."

"What kind of mistake?" Fillmore asked curiously.

"Back in the seventh grade, I was partnered with a Safety Patroller who was sent undercover as a Red Robin. She was a lot like Ingrid; very smart, her own person. But being around that kind of group, she turned. I tried to talk her out of it, but no dice. She's now the head of the Red Robins."

Both Fillmore and Ed raised their eyebrows realizing who Vallejo was talking about.

"Malika."