Sparkle Mystery; Chapter 7; Grandmother On Patrol

"Bruce came through for you Janie. Our first patrol together. I know it is just a little three-hour night shift, but it is work and not just trying to keep track of you. I think you were much easier to take care of before you became a plus-size carat diamond."

"I am just glad we are still together. Do you ever sleep? I do so when it is time for me to catch some 'z's' you need to let me. We also gotta come up with some catchphrases so we can signal each other when others are around. Deal?"

"Okay, just don't expect…"

"Janie, you see that man over there on that park bench. That little girl sitting beside him?"

"That little girl does not belong there. She is very upset and seems to be trying not to cry. Something just isn't right over there."

"Okay, I will head over there."

"Just turn and walk the opposite direction. Four turns, he just did four turns on the wristwatch he is wearing. He snatched the kid's hand and... Did you hear her cry a bit?

"Janie, she is being kidnapped. He is watching the place where he dropped off the ransom note? Careful honey, he has a gun in his pocket. Can you act like you are walking away? Put your hand in the air like you are stretching. Hold it a second… there is a white car.

"Poor little girl. She is so scared,

"Chief, have you had any calls about a missing little girl? About six, in a blue jumper top over blue jeans?"

"Yes, it just came in."

"I am looking at the people who have the little girl now. They are parked at the corner of third street and Waxahachie Lane. I think if you sent in a silent drive-by, we could take them quickly. I am already in position."

"Copy that, Janie. Good work. We might have been weeks trying to find that little girl."

"I am not going to ask you how you figured out the little girl was being kidnapped. Her whole family is new to this area. We will find out more as we go along. We have one suspect talking through his interview, naming everyone he has ever done a job with, and the other is closed up. We will get some cross-checking between agencies to know more."

"One thought came to mind as you were talking. Pull the credit card receipts in the glove box. Track the routing. I think you might check with those police departments and missing person's reports for those towns and find the answer you need faster. I am tired. I got all the statements completed and I am going home. Bruce, thanks. I appreciate the shift."

"You got another one just like it for tomorrow… I don't want to hear from you until then."

"That is your bell Chief, you are filling in as fire marshal till Bud gets back. Let me know if you need me."

"Janie, it is your house. It is on fire."

"Grandmother, the house is on fire. I hope mother is all right. How do you, never mind, I gotta get used to this."

"It is Mikey. He figures he will impress Marie if he does one of you in, you know he never has the brains to see anything through. I see the blaze from here. I think you will cover better ground if you go in the back way. Come up through the Oklahoma cross-over. Quick, turn here."

"Well, I'll be horn swaddled. Look at that."

"Mikey put the gasoline can down. I got you covered. You can only make things worse for yourself."

"Your Ma is dead, now all we gotta get is you. It don't matter if I go to jail, Marie will like me best because I broke Irma's will thingy. Hah, Hah on you Janie."

"He is right about one thing, Janie. Marie will be very happy. Take it easy. I got you covered. My gun is aimed right at your heart. What I want you to do Janie, is give me that ring. I got no reason to hang around after that. Let the rest of them get nailed for burning some ashes. I am going to disappear with that diamond."

"Brian, this is a fake stone. It is not real. You will end up with nothing. I promise you."

"I don't believe you. So, what we are going to do is to stay in the lineman's cabin for a few days while I get that little bobble appraised. When I have my report I either finish you off or let you go. It is that simple."

"Grandmother, what do I do? I know he can't hear me, but I need to think this through. I don't dare give you to him."

"Are you whispering to yourself? And they say we are crazy. Give me that ring."

"Janie, if you give me to him, I might be able to scare him into giving it up. As it is, you are fixing to get shot."

"Brian, why did you do that. You shot Janie."

"Quick, grab the ring off that finger. Leave her there, she will die soon, her mother is already dead so who will get the house and the property… Us. That is who. They are going to know one of us shot her."

"No, they won't I got a gun just like hers. It will look like she accidentally shot herself with her gun. Hah, Hah. Good officer Farrar. Not much of a detective after all.