Ring Of Deception

He had the sudden unhappy feeling he knew the reason those pants were so saggy.

“I gotta go potty.”

“Right.” Luke stood up. “Well, that’s not my problem. Where’s your teacher?”

“I gotta go now,” the boy said, and jiggled from one foot to the other.

Luke muttered something. He put down his tape measure, grabbed the kid’s hand and marched him out of the office.

“Hello,” he called to the world in general.

“Luke?” Katherine Kinard came quickly toward him. “What are you doing?”

“Looking for help. This kid—”

“The children are not your responsibility.”

“Damned right, they aren’t.”

“Your language . . . ”

“Maybe you want to discuss my language later. Or would you rather do it now, while this kid poops all over your floor?”

Katherine’s eyes widened. “Joshua,” she said, “do you have to go to the bathroom?”

“Uh-uh. Not anymore.”

Luke laughed. He couldn’t help it. Katherine gave him a baleful look and held out her hand.

“Come with me, Joshua. I’ll take you to the toilet and then we’ll find your play group.”

“‘Kay.”

“Mr. Sloan, wait in my office for me, please.”

The “please” changed nothing. The words were an order. Luke thought of telling the director what she could do with her orders, but he knew that would be a mistake. He needed her cooperation for however long he was going to be here. So he kept his mouth shut, strolled back to the office and settled a hip against the desk.

The lady wanted to talk? Fine. So did he. By the time she returned minutes later, he was more than ready.

“Ms. Kinard.”

“Mr. Sloan.”

Katherine closed the door, clearly a sign she meant business.

“Mr. Sloan, this isn’t going to work.”

Luke nodded. “Agreed.”

“I cannot have children streaming in here all day.”

“And I,” Luke said, folding his arms over his chest, “am not here to play nursemaid to a bunch of toddlers.”

“They’re not all toddlers, Mr. Sloan, and the very last thing I wish you to do is play nursemaid.”

“Amen to that.”

“Good.” Katherine let out a breath and gave him a polite smile. “We agree, then.”

“We do.”

“I’m sorry this didn’t work out, Mr. Sloan . . . Luke. Shall I inform your lieutenant, or will you?”

“Inform him of what?”

“Why, that you won’t be doing your surveillance from our center anymore.”

Luke’s smile was tight. “I’m not leaving.”

“But you just said—”

“I said that I couldn’t do my job and play nursemaid.”

“Yes, but in that case—”

“Make up some rules. Tell the kids your office is off-limits until I finish here.”

“I’m afraid that’s impossible. As you said, this is my office.”

“And this is a police matter,” Luke said coolly. “I can’t get anything done with kids hanging on my neck.” He paused. “And when I get around to using tools—”

“Tools?”

“Tools, Katherine. Saws. Hammers. The things I’ll need to do the job right. As far as everyone else knows, I’m a carpenter, remember? I’m going to be building those shelves, and I don’t think you’ll want rug rats underfoot when I do.”

Katherine stared at Luke. Then she sighed and sank into her chair.

“I’m not going to get rid of you that easily, am I?”

“You’re not going to get rid of me at all. Go on. Call your attorney. He’ll tell you I’m here to stay.”

Katherine nodded. The truth was, she’d already spoken with Daniel again and he’d told her the same thing. Nobody would give her much information on what was happening across the street, but it seemed to be important.

The detective was right. They’d need some rules.

Katherine picked up a pencil, tapped it against her lower lip. “Rule number one. Kids can come in during breaks.”

“Meaning?”