Frankie Dupont and the Science Fair Sabotage by Julie Anne Grasso

Author:Julie Anne Grasso [Grasso, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bublish, Inc.
Published: 2015-05-11T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

Nothing Gets Past the Machine

‘What? How?’ said Angus and Archie in unison.

Frankie adjusted his fedora. ‘Follow me.’

He wove through the aisles, leading the group as though he were the Pied Piper. He exited the conference room doors and paced over to Colonel Forsythe’s security contraption.

A stream of stragglers moved through the machine and when the last one had entered the conference room, Colonel Forsythe poked his head from behind the X-ray screen.

‘What’s the problem, son? Haven’t this lot already been through?’

‘Yes, Colonel, they have, however, I have reason to believe one of them may be concealing a tiny robotics chip on their person. Do you think you can help me?’

Colonel Forsythe’s eyes lit up. ‘You bet I can, son. March ’em through.’

‘Hold it right there,’ said Harrison, stepping away from the group. ‘I believe you’ll need permission to do that.’

‘Why?’ Frankie questioned with a shrug. ‘It’s no different to when you walk through security in an airport. It’s the best method of searching someone without actually having to touch them.’

‘So be it,’ Harrison grumbled.

‘You can refuse to walk through, however, I’m afraid that will point even further to your guilt.’ Frankie scanned the group. ‘Does anyone else have any objections?’

Rodney, Heather, Riku and Joseph all shook their heads, and Harrison huffed.

Frankie steered the rest of the group into position in front of the X-ray monitor while the contestants lined up behind the arch.

‘Let’s get this over with then.’ Harrison marched through and the machine made a bleep. Colonel Forsyth peered intently at the X-ray screen, stroking his moustache.

‘I believe that bleep was for his mobile phone. Other than that he is all clear. Keep them coming,’ the Colonel beckoned.

Heather went skipping through, her balloon pigtails bobbing behind her. The machine made two bleeps and they all stared at the screen intently. ‘Okay, we have a mobile phone in her back pocket. Otherwise clear.’

‘Wait a minute. What’s that shadow?’ Angus pushed past Frankie getting close to the monitor.

‘I can’t see anything else,’ said Colonel Forsythe

‘There behind her mobile phone.’ Angus pointed.

‘Well I never.’ Colonel Forsythe smoothed his moustache again. ‘It’s certainly concealing something. Pirouette please, Heather.’

Heather twirled in obedience.

‘Yep, there is definitely something in her pocket,’ said Angus.

‘May we see what is behind your mobile phone please, Miss Chapman?’ Frankie felt uncomfortable even asking, however he knew he couldn’t afford to let it slide.

‘Sure,’ said Heather drawing the mobile phone from her pocket slowly, as though someone had asked her to stick ’em up. As she did so, a small black square dropped onto the floor.

‘It has to be it.’ Archie swooped on it. A moment later he stood with a frown on this face. ‘It’s only a piece of metal painted black.’

‘Oh, I’m so sorry, how silly of me to forget,’ said Heather. ‘One of my earring creations needed a new backing, and I was going to fix it right before the fight broke out.’ She sashayed to her station, retrieving a Martian vomit-coloured earing. Swiping the metal square from Archie’s grasp, she matched it to the back of the earring.

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