11-13 Foul Plot Foiled

Day 11: “And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for you meddling kids!” —Every Villain, Scooby Doo


"Thats right hurry in! Come see the world's only living Mermaid. Fresh from the Gulf of Mexico." Nikola worked the crowd. He needed this show to be a success. Moving to Texas had been a last resort. If his illusions didn't sell or the cops arrested him for fraud again.

"Holy creepers, mister!" a little girl with a miniskirt sweater and glasses said. "Do you have a real mermaid?"

Victory! The young were so gullible. They believed in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. This was an easy sell.

"You bet, but you gotta pay twelve bucks to get in."
"Okay, here you go!"

Perfect Nikola just needed a few more butts in seats then he'd break even on his investment. A couple of serious looking men came up after Nikola had sold to the kid. They didn't say anything, just payed for their tickets.

Whatever at least it was money. He put a sold out sign at the front of his booth and went around to the back of the trailer. He went in and checked the giant tank of water. Bernice was already in the water with her fins on. Everything was going perfectly. Nikola gave her a thumbs up as he walked by.

Bernice rolled her eyes underwater. She'd been working with this charlatan for five years. She had tired of the costume role plays. Still, it wasn't like Nikola didn't pay her so she did her best fish-woman impression to get in character.

Nikola walked out to the front of the curtain. "Hey folks, how many of you think mermaids don't exist?" Several hands went up. "Well I'm here tonight to show you that they are real!"

He pulled the rope to drop the curtain over the tank. Bernice swam up and waved at their audience. Nikola continued his narration. "She was rescued after an oil spill—"

"No she wasn't. Thats not a mermaid," the little girl with glasses said. "She's wearing a suit and a rebreather. Look close you can see the seam of her fins-suit and the equipment."

Bernice gaped in shock. She accidentally dropped the rebreather to the bottom and swallowed a mouthful of water. She kicked to the surface and sputtered, while she held on to the edge of the tank.

The little girl continued her summation in front of the audience. "This is none other than Nikola Savanovic and his assistant Bernice Green," she said. "They're con artist I've seen via remote viewing. They're responsible for fraudulently exploiting their victims out of millions of dollars. Until now that is. Officers, take these two to jail!"

Right on cue, the serious looking men stood up and pulled handcuffs out of their pockets. One Mirandized Nikola while the other pulled Bernice put of the water. "Good work, Wilma," one of the officers said as they hauled the frauds to their squad car.