I smirked. “Weren’t you just in the restroom? Why does it matter if the door’s locked? Were you planning to make a quick exit?”
Her anger disappeared, replaced by a forced laugh.
“I just didn’t want the owner to accidentally lock us in.” She picked up the wine glass on the table and took a big swig.
“Oh, that running around was exhausting. Let me drink a little to cool down.” She made a point of not taking out her phone to pay up.
I stayed quiet, watching her patiently.
Just then, she clutched her head.
“Oh no, I feel so dizzy” Then, without warning, she collapsed face–first onto the table, pretending to pass out.
hushed the others, then pulled an electric toy snake from my bag and tossed it onto Val’s back.
<
People had told me she was terrified of snakes. I flipped the switch, and the toy anake began moving on her.
At first, she tried to ignore it, but then she grabbed at the cold, slippery thing and froze when she saw the snake’s head. She let out a piercing scream, panicking as she tossed it away.
1 retrieved the toy, carefully chosen for its realistic look.
Seeing that her “act” wasn’t working, she suddenly rolled her eyes and fell to the floor, faking a seizure. She lay there convulsing, foaming at the mouth, hands and feet curled.
Jamie shouted, “Oh no, she’s having a seizure!”
- 7.
I had to bite my tongue to stop from laughing. Nobody having a real seizure would be twitching their tongue like that–it was just bad acting.
I made a big show of looking concerned. “Oh no, Val’s having a seizure! We’d better get her to the hospital. I’ll cover her part of the bill
Sure enough, her twitching slowed immediately.
Please, she didn’t have nearly enough skill to pull a trick like this on me.
I sighed, “Actually, I don’t have the money. Maybe we should wait until she’s done seizing so she can pay her part.”
Her tongue suddenly started twitching faster.
Just then, a server walked in. “Uh… Miss Emerson, are you ready to settle the bill? We’re closing.”
I pointed to Val, thrashing on the floor, and signaled for him to wait.
“My colleague here is having a seizure. Good thing I know a little first aid
I took the fresh lobster claw I’d prepared and held it over her twitching tongue.
The claw, still fresh and sharp, clamped onto her tongue the moment it touched it, and she but continued “playing dead.”
ake it off. She let out a muffled scream
After a moment, I pulled it off, then signaled for someone to bring a rope to tie her down.
Jamie stepped forward, eager to help tie her up. “Yep, they say If someone’s seizing, you have to restrain them, or they might hurt themselves.
When her tongue finally stopped twitching, I quickly grabbed a dirty rag used to mop the floor and shoved it into her mouth.
“Quick, make her bite down on this, so she doesn’t bite her tongue!”
The rag was filthy and smelled awful, and Val finally snapped.
“Let go of me! Let gol
Ifeigned surprise. “You’re awake? Looks like my first aid skills aren’t so bad after all.”
