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“Just Mary Beth, and believe me, so do I. I don’t know what to do with that girl.” She glanced at his car. “You can bring Fuzz in.”
“Thank you, but he’s good.” The windows were down, and he wouldn’t leave the car without permission.
She stepped back. “Please, come in.”
As he and Skye took seats on the sofa, he glanced around. Although there was a bare minimum of furniture, the place was clean and neat. He guessed Mary Beth to be in her late thirties, not old by any means, but the way her shoulders slumped and with the bags under her eyes, she looked as if she carried the weight of the world on her back. He supposed working two jobs and worry about a child could do that to you.
“Would you like something to drink? I have sweet tea, or I could make a pot of coffee if you prefer.”
“No, thank you.”
“A glass of water would be lovely,” Skye said.
Mary Beth seemed pleased by the request as she dashed away, and he glanced at Skye to see a soft smile on her face. “What’s that look for?”
She shrugged. “She needed to feel useful.”
This was why he was glad she’d agreed to come with him. Women picked up on stuff that went right over a man’s head. He had a suspicion that was going to prove useful in dealing with Melissa.
Mary Beth returned, carrying a tray with two glasses of water and a small plate of Oreo cookies. She set it on the coffee table, then sat in the chair closest to Skye. “I’m going to apologize in advance for my daughter’s attitude.”
Skye reached over and put her hand on Mary Beth’s arm. “You’re doing the right thing, Mary Beth. Sometimes children need a little tough love. The chief here said he talked to you about the choices we’re going to give her.”
“Yes, but I don’t want her to go to juvie.”
“And she won’t, but that option is only to encourage her to make the right choice. She doesn’t need to know that, okay?”
It occurred to him that he and Skye were going to play good cop, bad cop, and she was going to get to be the good cop. He didn’t like being a bad cop.
The front door slammed open, and Melissa walked in, wearing jeans that had to be a size too small, a deep red blouse with too many buttons undone, too much makeup for her age, and large silver hoop earrings that matched the description Mrs. Bauman had given him. Her long blond hair had blue streaks running through it.
She came to a full stop at seeing her mother had company. Her gaze slid from Skye to him, and her eyes widened, fear flashing in them. So, she probably guessed why he was here. She reached up and pulled her hair over one ear, then did the same to her other ear, hiding the earrings. She definitely knew why a police officer was sitting in her living room.
“Have a seat, Melissa,” he said.
She spun and headed for the door.
“If you walk away, I will arrest you.” Yep, bad cop here. But she needed to be afraid. He wouldn’t arrest her over a pair of ten-dollar earrings, but it was best if she thought he would. He’d also bet serious money on this not being the first thing she’d shoplifted, only the first time she was caught.
Melissa froze but didn’t turn around. Skye stood and went to her. She put her arm around the girl’s shoulder. “Come sit down, honey.”
Next time they had to deal with a teenager, he got to be the good cop.
Melissa broke away from Skye and went to her mother, squeezing onto the chair with her.
“You know who I am,” he said once she was seated. He lifted his chin toward Skye. “This is Sheriff Morgan. You know why we’re here, Melissa?”
The girl shook her head, and he wanted to sigh. She knew exactly the reason two police officers were in her home.
“Where did you get the earrings you’re wearing, Melissa?” Skye said, keeping her voice soft.
“A friend gave them to me.” She kept her gaze down as she picked at invisible lint on her jeans.
Bad cop Tristan shook his head. “Lying to the police doesn’t score you any points. You want to try the truth now?”
When she didn’t answer, Mary Beth said, “Did you steal the earrings, Mel?”
Melissa opened her mouth, then snapped it shut as a mulish expression crossed her face.
