“This child has been moving around people’s belongings.”
Isaiah stared.
“No, I haven't.”
Jasmine looked at him.
Then at his badge.
Then toward the robotics booths.
“You're with Future Makers?”
“Yes.”
“Hawthorne Robo Cubs?”
“Yes.”
Jasmine smiled.
“I saw your robot earlier.”
Isaiah relaxed slightly.
Lorraine did not.
“That doesn't prove he wasn't watching people.”
Jasmine looked at her.
“Did he take something?”
“No.”
“Touch anything?”
“No.”
“Did someone say something is missing?”
“No.”
“Then what exactly happened?”
Lorraine folded her arms.
“I have been watching him.”
Jasmine waited.
“That isn't an answer.”
Lorraine’s face reddened.
“He’s walking around unsupervised.”
Isaiah pointed toward the booth.
“My teacher is right there.”
The Hawthorne tent was clearly visible.
Large blue banner.
School logo.
Pictures of the robot.
Jasmine nodded.
“He’s inside an authorized student activity zone.”
Lorraine looked toward the tent.
She should have stopped.
Instead, she changed arguments.
“Well, children shouldn't be soliciting money in an amusement park.”
“They have permission.”
“From who?”
“The park.”
Lorraine tightened her jaw.
“I want security.”
Jasmine blinked.
“For what?”
“I’m not arguing with you.”
She took out her phone.
Isaiah watched.
His stomach began to hurt.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling somebody who can actually handle this.”
Isaiah looked toward Jasmine.
“Am I in trouble?”
“No.”
“Then why is she calling security?”
Jasmine crouched slightly.
“You haven't done anything wrong.”
That did not answer his question.
CHAPTER 3: THE SECURITY LINE
Adventure Kingdom security responded quickly.
Crowded amusement parks did not ignore calls involving possible theft.
Security supervisor Mark Dalton arrived with Elena Ruiz, another park officer.
A city police officer assigned to the weekend crowd detail walked over a minute later.
His name was Andrew Hargrove.
Isaiah had never been surrounded by three uniformed adults before.
Even though none touched him, the effect was immediate.
The park suddenly felt smaller.
The cheerful music became louder.
Every stranger seemed to be watching.
Lorraine pointed.
“That’s him.”
Isaiah tightened his grip on the clipboard.
Dalton looked at the boy.
Then at his lanyard.
“What happened?”
“I’m doing robots.”
Lorraine sighed loudly.
“He keeps saying that.”
Dalton looked at the badge.
“Future Makers.”
“Yes.”
“What school?”
“Hawthorne Elementary.”
Officer Ruiz accepted one of the cards.
She read.
National Youth Robotics Showcase.
Official fundraiser.
Event partner logo.
QR code.
Team photograph.
Isaiah pointed at himself.
“That’s me.”
Ruiz smiled.
“You're the one in the orange shirt?”
“Yes.”
“What do you do?”
“Sensors.”
Hargrove glanced toward the school tent.
“This seems straightforward.”
Lorraine interrupted.
“You weren't watching him.”
Hargrove looked at her.