Unwilling Accomplice - Barbara Seranella
Page 22
Rico cuffed the guy where he lay then dragged him to his feet and marched him back to the police sedan. Munch and a wide-eyed Asia followed. Munch figured that seeing justice carried out was one of the better field trips Asia’d ever been on. The guy’s name turned out to be as innocuous as his appearance: Fred Moore.
Rico called it in for wants and warrants. When that came up empty he contacted a relatively new database of sex offenders. There he scored. Fred Moore, age twenty-nine, white male, was on probation for lewd conduct. According to the terms of his probation, he was prohibited from loitering in venues created to attract children.
"That’s it for you," Rico said, his face grim.
Freddy looked as if he were going to cry. It was always the same with these monsters. The only sympathy they ever felt was for themselves.
"You don't understand/’ Moore said. "I love children."
"No," Munch said, "you use them. It’s not the same at all."
Rico requested a cage car to come pick up Freddy-boy.
Munch was glad that Rico wasn’t going to leave the petting zoo immediately. She had something to discuss with him.
They had to wait only five minutes for the transport vehicle. Sometimes, the cops were just where they needed to be when you needed them. In fact, that seemed to be the case a lot
lately.
Asia relaxed, letting go of Munch’s hand and wandering toward the animals that were available to pet. Munch told her they could stay for ten more minutes and then they needed to get home. Jasper didn’t like to be alone.
When Asia was out of earshot, Munch turned to Rico.
"I’m going to have to take care of my nieces for a while," she said. "I talked with Lisa and she’s checking into a rehab, I told her the kids could stay with me."
"Of course," he said. "Your family. It’s only right. I’ll help any way I can."
"What about all your buddies? Your cop friends. What would they think of you spending time with me?"
"It’s nobody’s business but ours. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with you. Nothing."
That wasn’t strictly true, she thought.
They walked along, keeping parallel to Asia as she tried to portion her handfuls of feed equally among the animals clamoring around her. They heard the sounds of children at play. Rico took Munch’s hand. She concentrated on the place where their flesh met.
"You know," she said, "I’ve never really had my infertility checked out. There was just the one doctor who told me eight years ago that I had probably damaged my fallopian tubes. I mean, I know he was right. I haven't ever taken birth control and I’ve never gotten pregnant, but that’s not to say that I couldn’t have surgery or maybe take some kind of medication"
"Why don’t you look into it?" he said.