Shock ran a finger along the back of Loki's shell.

"You'll get her next time, precious," she cooed.

The scorpion settled back into place and went back to happily munching on the waffle piece.

Barrel brought the next round of wailing waffles to add to the stack.

"It actually won't be that hard," he said. "They keep their brooms behind the counter so they're always at the ready. If I can get Agatha and one of her aunts to focus on me, that'll give Shock time to grab them once the swamp smoke starts to spew."

"Preferably Aggie," Shock said. "It's harder for Agnes to see behind me without leaving her stool."

"And they won't be thinking about their brooms," Barrel said. "Just evacuating the shop."

"Right," Shock said.

She pet Loki again.

"And [i]this[/i] little demon's going to knock the bottle over," she said. "Harder to blame any of us if we're nowhere near it."

"To add to the confusion!" Barrel said proudly.

"They won't know it was a trick until they see the brooms glued to the wall," Shock said with a grin.

The sound of footsteps echoing in the lair sounded. By their weight and tread, Lock finished his bath and was finally joining them. The little devil slid into the dining room.

"Oh, we're going over contingencies?" he asked with a grin to mirror Shock's. Lock grabbed a plate, having caught the tail end of the conversation. "Don't forget order of arrival."

"Right," Shock said. "Barrel was going to go in first."

"Give them a 'heads up' that you're on your way with a delivery, and try to distract with potions in the meantime," Barrel said with a nod.

"Maybe not even mention that," Lock suggested. "Just distract."

Barrel pondered, then nodded in agreement.

"There's a few extra jars of tails in the prep room," Shock told Carver. "Since you'll be 'assisting' me with the delivery."

"And I'll run in after with the venom vials you 'forgot'," Lock chimed in, "then look around while I'm there."

They knew better than to come in all at once. Nothing would get the witches' attention more.

"Swamp smoke is pretty thick," Barrel said. "It should only take a few seconds to fill the shop."

"And while Barrel's [i]escorting[/i] Agatha and hopefully one of her aunts," Shock continued, "Carver will place the wedding broom on the ceiling while Lock and I get the witches' brooms. We're gonna have to be fast: grab, glue, and go."

Lock and Barrel nodded.

"I'll try to toss one of the brooms your way on the way out," Barrel said.

"And I'll try to 'escort' whichever witch I'm working with," Shock said.

She pondered.

"I can use Loki as an excuse to delay or run back in if I have to."

"So...I'm possibly doing double broom duty," Lock said.

"Unless Carver can handle two at once," Barrel suggested.

"Either way, I'll get Agnes' broom under her cargo pants," Shock said.

Lock glanced to Carver.

"Don't forget to be near something corrosive," he said. "So I can 'help' when you have trouble walking."