chirprecording.mov
The video was shot from above, near the roof line, with a clear view of the ground running between their houses. A space that was normally empty, but now showcased a shadowed figure with familiar curly hair creeping through the dark. Her face angled towards the camera the moment she passed beside the back porch,tripping over a dark crate, and exposing Bea in stark relief against the dark fence line, a giant bee box in hand.
Eliana raised her eyes back to the window facing Milo’s house, a shiver racing down her spine at the realization that shedidhear somebody creeping about. She met Clem’s eyes and then glanced at the time—half past one in the morning. The girls and Jesse would be out cold.
Milo
she’s going to stress them
they’ll swarm
I’m calling the police
Eliana
I’ll delay her
The night airhad a bite to it, even within the thick, vented beekeeping suits Milo had directed them to wear. Eliana wished she had thrown a sweater on in her hurry, but it was too late to turn back now that they were walking down the edge of the yard, heading for the bee boxes Milo kept along the property line—armed with red light flashlights from Milo’s supply crates.
“You doing alright?” Eliana whispered to Clem, creeping along at her side.
“Shh, we found the criminal,” Clem whispered back.
Eliana shook her head and slowed her steps when the boxes came into view, and she discovered that Clem was right. At their base, a smoker in hand, was Bea—steadily fanning the smoke into the nearest box. She was wearing only a hood with no body protection, the wisps of her hair poking out of the bottom.
“Bea,” Eliana called into the dark, watching as her old friend turned, alarm in her eyes at having been caught.
“Who’s there?” Bea shouted. “Why are you here?”
“We’re here for the bees,” Clem said, her voiceseveral octaves deeper than normal, hitting a note Eliana didn’t even know was possible.
“Will you stop it?” Eliana hissed, smothering the laughter that bubbled to the surface and forcing her voice to be even as she continued. “You need to back away from the boxes. What you’re doing is dangerous. Not to mention illegal.”
Bea straightened, “Eliana?” She squinted at Clem, “Who is that? Clementine?”
“Hello, Beatrice.” Clem greeted, her voice returning to normal. “You’re looking well—for a whore.”
“What do you want?” Bea snapped.
“I’m trying to stop you from making a bad situation worse,” Eliana said. “Look at what you’re doing right now. Trespassing. Stealing.”
Bea’s hands jerked in exaggerated motions as she spoke, her tone furious, “These bees are rightfullymine. They belong tomystore.”
“They were never yours. You know that.”
“Yeah—the bees are too good for you,” Clem added. “All this damn entitlement. What she really needs is a good ass-kicking. Or a lobotomy.”
“What is that? Lip filler?” Bea sneered, giving Clem a disgusted once-over. “Like you’re one to talk.”
“It’s a needle through the brain,” Clem corrected, maintaining eye contact.
“What thefuck?” Bea turned to Eliana, “You’re letting her make threats to kill me now?”
Clem scoffed loudly, the sound carrying over the hum of the bees. “It wouldn’t kill you.”
Eliana stepped forward, raising her hands. “We’re getting off track. Bea, we’re just pointing out that all you can possibly achieve tonight is damaging the hive. You won’t begetting away with stealing Milo’s bees. They’re protected in the prenup.”
“And you’re going to stop me?”
