Page 28 of Bad Seed

Sergeant Winter checked the computer. “Yes, she is.”

Larry sighed. “She has the keys to my car in her personal effects. She took the car without my knowledge or permission, and I wonder if I might retrieve them, please?”

“Have a seat,” Winter said, and then called the chief’s office.

Chief Sonny Warren was talking to Wiley and Doug when his desk phone rang. “Just a sec,” he said, and answered. “What’s up, Walter?”

“Justine Beaumont’s father is in the lobby. He says his daughter took his car without his knowledge and is wondering if he might have his car keys back.”

Sonny glanced up at Doug and Wiley. “Bring him back to my office. We need to have a conversation.”

“Yes, sir,” Walter said. “I’ll walk him back myself.”

Sonny hung up. “Justine Beaumont’s father came looking for his car keys. Didn’t ask a damn thing about his daughter’s welfare. I wonder how many times he’s had to do this before.”

“She has some priors, but they’re minor compared to this,” Doug said.

“Was there a set of car keys on her when she was booked into jail?” Sonny asked.

“Yes, sir,” Doug said.

“I need you to go get them. The car belongs to her father. We haven’t towed it yet, have we?” Sonny asked.

“No, sir. It’s still in the parking lot at Trapper’s. Do I need to notify the tow service?” Wiley asked.

“No, her father can retrieve it without issue. It’s not part of her arrest. What I wantyouto do is compare the fingerprints on the note your brother brought in against the prints we just took off Miss Beaumont. If they match, please call me to let me know.”

Wiley stood. “On it, sir,” he replied, and was walking out of the office when Walter and Larry walked in.

Larry paused, staring at Wiley in disbelief. “Brendan?”

“Brother,” Wiley said, and kept walking.

Larry was stunned. “The resemblance is remarkable,” he muttered.

“Brendan has three older brothers. They all look alike,” Walter said, then introduced him. “Chief, this is Mr. Beaumont,” Walter said, and closed the door behind him as he left.

Sonny eyed the man, thinking he looked soft andspent too much time behind a desk, and then shrugged it off. These days, the same could be said of him.

“Take a seat, Mr. Beaumont. Your daughter is in a lot of trouble.”

Larry’s face was already flushed from embarrassment. “My daughter has been nothing but trouble since the day she started first grade. But she’s no longer a child. She’s twenty-four years old, and whatever she’s done is on her. All I want are the keys to my car that she took without asking.”

“I sent one of my men to get them. Do you want to talk to her?” Sonny asked.

“No, sir, I do not. As for lawyers, she can get a court-appointed one, just like every other indigent. She has never worked a day in her indulged life. She didn’t want my advice, ever, and only wanted my help when she was in trouble. And that’s not happening. Not this time.”

There was a knock at the door, and then Doug popped in and laid the keys on Sonny’s desk, and walked out again. Before Sonny could pick them up, his phone rang. It was Wiley.

“Yes?”

“Perfect match, sir,” Wiley said.

“Thank you,” Sonny said, and hung up.

“That was one of my officers. It appears that your daughter’s prints match the ones found on a note that was turned in to us when Brendan Pope reported a threatening note left on his front door. It will now be upto him as to whether or not he files charges for sexual harassment and stalking.”

Larry moaned beneath his breath. “When did this happen?”

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