Free Crown's Law by Wolf Wootan

was
Becky’s legal guardian, there were many times when his parents were
out of town pursuing their retirement pleasures. Helena Crown
deemed Becky too young to be left alone during these times, so
during those periods that they didn’t take Becky with them, Becky
became Sam’s problem to look after. Becky balked at having a
babysitter—after all, she had never had one when she lived on the
streets, and she was a year older now. Fourteen! So Sam would take
her to work with him. Becky enjoyed this immensely, since not only
did she get to spend time with Sam, she was interested in what he
did. She even got to see some great concerts when he was on
bodyguard assignments for various bands and rock groups!
Even ’NSync once!
    She became an expert in all of Sam’s advanced
surveillance gear, took karate classes with him (Sam was a black
belt who taught, when he could, at a local karate school), and she
even learned about firearms when he went to the shooting range.
When Sam went out in his surveillance van, he sometimes would take
her with him. She would take her backpack—full of books—with her
and study during the long, boring surveillance periods, headphones
on her head listening to her favorite CDs. But she was with Sam.
That’s what mattered.
    When she couldn’t go with Sam, Becky
stayed in the office with Pearl. Pearl Cooper was the office
manager of Mickey Malone Investigations and the only full-time employee. Detectives from Investigations International rotated
through the office, but Pearl was the person who gave the office’s
cases continuity. At 26 years old, she was a slim blonde, 5’ 7”
tall, and 128 pounds. She was a devout Catholic, still a virgin,
and in search of a husband—one who met her very stringent list of
qualifications. She went to UCI night school in hopes of eventually
finishing the required courses for her MBA.
    Pearl could not be seduced, as Sam found out
right away, so he had stopped trying, though he did rib her
constantly about her virginity. She returned the favor by crabbing
constantly about his womanizing.
    Becky and Pearl liked each other, though
Pearl was a little bit intimidated by Becky’s overwhelming
intellect.
    Becky had never actually helped Sam on a case
before Monday, September 13, 1999. She went to work with him on
that day, even though the Crowns were not out of town, just because
she liked hanging out with Sam. Even though she was only 14, she
was starting the equivalent of her junior year at UCI.
    It was 10 A.M. and Sam was reviewing some
papers on his desk, a deep frown on his brow. Becky was sprawled
teenager style on his office couch while reading a physics book.
She looked up at Sam and saw that he was perplexed. She took a swig
of her Sprite.
    She asked, “What’re you working on, Sam?”
    He looked up and smiled at her. “Just a case.
It should have been a slam dunk, but I’m stymied. I shouldn’t be,
but I’ve got brain lock.”
    “Why don’t you tell me about it. I know when
I’m stymied by a difficult concept, talking to someone about it
helps me unplug my mental roadblock,” smiled Becky. “Just forget
that I’m only a 14-year-old kid.”
    Sam said, “I didn’t know you ever got mental
blocks, but OK. Here it is. The manager of this real estate office
down on South Main Street has someone stealing their petty cash.
They keep a couple hundred bucks in a metal box in the manager’s
desk drawer. It’s been swiped four times now. Yesterday was the
latest. This manager—Mary’s her name—hired us to catch the thief. I
installed a secret surveillance camera that watches the drawer with
the cash. The tape doesn’t show anyone stealing it yesterday, but
the money’s gone again. Mary suspects this secretary Helen, but I
interviewed her—in fact, I interviewed everyone in the office—and I
can’t believe Helen would do such a thing. She’s more virtuous than
Pearl!”
    Becky sat up on the couch and cupped her chin
in her hand, elbow on her