Page 66 of Artful Deceit

The sergeant hushed him and encouraged him into the car before closing the door and circling around the back to close the boot.

“Wait!” Lily said as the back door came down. “He stole my backpack. I need to get it back.”

“We’ll process everything and get it back to you,” Sergeant Proctor said, heading for the driver’s door. “You didn’t report anything missing though, so you better come to the station later to make sure we’ve got all the paperwork straight.”

“No,” Lily protested, but the sergeant was already in the car.

“Don’t worry,” Flynn said. “You’ll get it back.”

“You could have just given it to me then.” She glared at him. “You promised you’d get it for me.”

“I will. What does it look like again?”

“It’s black with a little blue flower embroidered on the front pocket.”

“I think I saw that. Once we’ve got everything documented, I can bring it over to you.”

“You can’t document it,” Lily said desperately. “I already told you the sergeant can’t look inside it, or you. I need you to promise you won’t look in it.”

“Why?” He pursed his lips. “What’s in it?”

“Just promise me,” she snarled.

A smirk played on his lips. “What exactly is so embarrassing that you don’t want me to see?”

As tears filled her eyes, she turned away from him.

“Lily,” he said after a moment.

“I just need the bag back,” she said, unable to hide her emotions. “I can explain everything to you later, but first I need you to get my bag… and not look inside it.”

“What could be so bad?” he asked, searching her features.

“It’s sentimental,” she said, her voice hoarse. “Stuff I found after my uncle died. I’ll show it to you later, but you can’t let the sergeant see it.”

“Okay.” He cupped her cheek and brushed away a tear with his thumb. “I’ll get it for you. Don’t worry.”

She squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”

Flynn pulled in at the station and stepped out of the car.

“Are you okay?” he called to the sergeant, who lingered beside the Land Rover, one hand on the back panel as though steadying himself.

He nodded slowly. “Not feeling too bright. Len’s wittering doesn’t help.”

“Do you want me to deal with him?”

Again, the sergeant nodded. “Book him in.” He swiped at the glimmer of sweat on his forehead. “Since I don’t think he’s a danger to anyone, or a flight risk, we’ll interview him and let him go on bail until he has a court date.”

“Do you want me to do the interview if you’re not feeling great?”

“I’ll manage. I might need to go home after that, though.”

“Do you need to see a doctor?” Flynn asked, concerned at the sergeant suggesting going home when there was so much todeal with. He could process the stolen goods himself, but it was unusual for the sergeant to hand over control.

“I think I’m all right,” he said, moving and opening the boot. “I haven’t been sleeping well. Probably just need to catch up on some shut eye.”

Flynn opened the back door to let Len out, then escorted him inside and into the interview room.