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“Should I text Natalie?”
“Not yet. Let Ethan do his thing.” He moved to the window, staying to the side, where he was in the shadows. “I’m going to take a little video.”
Less than five minutes later, a loud, piercing siren broke the silence, followed by the bright headlights of Ethan’s vehicle as it screeched to a halt in the parking lot. Connor heard cursing as the boys abandoned the shovels and tried to scurry away. But Ethan and his partner were quick and had them surrounded.
“Let’s go,” Connor said, turning on his flashlight before starting down the stairs.
Abby followed behind him.
Outside, they made their way to the construction site to see Ethan leading the boys to the back of his SUV. They walked single file. The first with his head down, the second wiping his eyes, and the third yelling that his father would have their badge.
Ethan jogged over. “Thanks for the call. Didn’t catch them with any spray cans, though.”
“What the hell were they doing? We saw them digging,” Connor said.
“Seems they were looking for the necklace Liam lost,” Ethan said.
“Busted at the scene of the crime,” Connor said. “Good for us, bad for them.”
“Can I talk to Liam?” Abby asked.
“Make it quick. I’m going to call Natalie and let her know we’re taking them to the station,” Ethan said.
“You’re going to put them in jail?” Abby cried.
Connor put an arm around her shoulder. “It’ll be all right, Abs. Let Ethan do his job.”
“I won’t put them in a cell, but I need to ask them questions about the vandalism,” Ethan said.
Connor and Ethan hung back while she ran over to Liam.
“Kind of ironic that you, a delinquent when we were kids, busted the minor of the woman you’re sleeping with,” Connor said.
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck. “Irony sucks. Nat’s going to hate me for taking him to the station.”
“You have to do your job, man.”
“You know it’s not going to matter to her.” Ethan watched as his deputy helped the boys into the squad car. “I’ve tried to get to know the kid, but Nat hasn’t wanted to tell him about us.”
Connor snorted. “She’s using you for sex. Again, there’s that irony.”
“Yeah,” Ethan said with a sad shake of his head.
“You thinking community service?”
“Hard to say. We didn’t catch them vandalizing, and I’m not sure the spray paint you found will prove they were responsible for any of the incidents.”
“If you need them to do a little community work, I could use a few kids who know how to use a shovel to help with the nature trail,” Connor said.
Ethan clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll keep it in mind.” He took out his phone. “Let me make this call to Nat.”
“Good luck.”
Abby returned, her face streaked with tears.
“Come here, darlin’.” Connor pulled her close and let her cry.
“He’s so frustrating…angry at the world. I don’t know how to help him,” she said.
