Page 67 of Playing for Keeps
“I’ll go right,” Justin said, pointing to the ones heading toward Flapjacks.
“I’ll get the two heading west,” Garrett confirmed.
The charges were mounting. Now they were eluding a police officer. Hopefully, they wouldn’t resist arrest too. Paired with the vandalism, any of those things could result in jail time.
The two women Justin were chasing stopped and turned, lifting their hands above their heads. “Stop! We don’t want to run.”
Justin slowed his steps and showed his hands too. “Good decision. What are your names?”
“I’m Jessica, and this is Marcie.”
Jessica. That was one name Jordan had on his list after pouring through the evidence from the last few weeks. “What are your friends’ names?”
Jessica burst into tears, and her friend reached for her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“It’s okay, Jess.”
“No, it’s not.” Justin stepped forward. “You’ve caused a lot of trouble, and there are going to besome major consequences. This could carry jail time at the worst and a hefty fine at the least.”
Jessica sucked in ragged breaths. “I’m sorry.”
Justin radioed in for backup and a report on the chase.
Garrett’s call numbers chirped back as he confirmed he’d apprehended the others.
“We… we…” Jessica stuttered. “We didn’t mean any harm.”
“You didn’t mean any harm? You could have ruined a prominent business. You worried the owner for weeks. You sent threats?—”
“No, that was Destiny,” Jessica said.
“Walk ahead of me, please.” Shaking his head, Justin followed the women toward the cruiser. “You have the right to remain silent.”
Another cruiser pulled up, and the girls were escorted into the back seats. Two of them were crying, and the other two were spitting curses.
The quick steps of someone running pattered on the pavement, and Justin turned to see Caroline and Skye approaching. Their expressions were grave in the dim streetlights.
“What’s happening?” Caroline asked.
“Caught the vandals,” Garrett answered.
Caroline covered her mouth with her hands. “Are you serious? Can I talk to them?”
Garrett tilted his head. “You can, but don’t say anything that’ll get you in trouble.”
Caroline opened the back door of the cruiser and gasped. “Jessica Shubert!”
Jessica fell into another crying fit. “I’m sorry!”
“You know her?” Justin asked.
“She’s Destiny Maddox’s younger sister. They go to our church.” She ducked her head to see who else was in the back seat. “Haley Tucker!”
Caroline popped her head up. “Her cousin owns Donut Haven.”
“Uh-oh. That sounds like a motive,” Garrett said.
“We can’t make assumptions like that,” Justin reminded his friend.
