Mystery Monday: Purloined Persuasion, Part V

"Oh, Robin, Robin," quoth Lance, "Decent try,
But none of us would fall for that. We know
Those islands are not Russian. You think I
Am pretty stupid, don't you?" "Oh, just go--"
"No, you were right to do it." "You admit --?"
"I've written a new case, all on my own
To beat you with." "You cocky little --" "It
Won't matter in the long run. I have grown
Because of you, and thank you." Robin threw
Her hands up, stalked into the classroom, met
Her partner's gaze and calmed a bit. She drew
A breath, and soon the battle lines were set.
Just thirty minutes later, all was sweet.
Her sneaky foe was bitter in defeat.

Mystery Monday: Purloined Persuasion, Part IV

A week went by, another meet was on.
Alas, though, Lance's team had gone elsewhere.
But news had spread somewhat of his big con,
At least so far as case-theft. In despair,
She took some time between debates to load
Her cache with more faked evidence and things
He'd be a fool to say. "I'll squash that toad
One way or 'nother," she declared, "I'll fling
Him in the fire! I'll make him wish he'd not--"
Her partner interrupted. "Hey, we should
Be focusing on this meet. We have got
A season yet." "You're right. We'll get him good."
Another week then passed, and there he sat,
Ipad in hand and smug as any cat.

Mystery Monday: Purloined Persuasion, Part III

"What's up, sis," asked her brother, once the crowd
Had settled down. "Oh, nothing much. It's just..."
She told him what had happened. "I'm too proud
To think I have a brother who would bust
My chances..." "But you know I had a crush
On Lance last year." "The thought occurred, so yes."
"We never... That is, once... There was this brush..."
"He got my hair! Oh, man, I'd never guess
He'd fake my DNA to get my files!"
"You should be flattered. Me, I got my heart--"
"Shut up, Jake. Or I'll tell your boyfriend, Miles,
You cheated on him." "Scheming little fart!"
But she'd hung up, and opened up her cache
To build a decoy file she'd fill with trash.

Mystery Monday: Purloined Persuasion, Part II

Lance won, of course. She'd known it ere debate
Concluded. She had done her very best
To keep her poise, for it was far too late
To fix it now. She took it as a test,
A chance to find her case's flaws. 'Twas not
An easy thing. And then as they shook hands
She looked into his face, and there she caught
A knowing smirk. Should she now take a stand?
"Good luck today," Lance said, and gave a wink.
This gave her pause. But could it really be?
She answered him in kind. She'd raise a stink
Once she knew how he'd done it. Calmly, she
Took out her phone. Her brother, at a game,
Could hardly hear her when she said his name.

Mystery Monday: Purloined Persuasion, Part I

Her case was most original, unique
And sure to put competitors to shame.
No one had found her angles, none would seek
Her sources. This would earn her lasting fame
In high school-aged debating circles where
She'd grown to adolescence. Soon her chance
To hit the circuit with it came. With care
She'd even memorized her first speech. Lance,
Carruthers, her opponent, won the toss,
Though, so he got to choose just who'd
Go first. He rose, and soon his wit and gloss
Had her in tears; indeed, she might have booed!
His ev'ry word was copied! How had he
So robbed her? 'Twas not over! Ne'er would be!