The Key by Bruce Hammack

Author:Bruce Hammack
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bruce Hammack
Published: 2013-07-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

CJ and Chief Moore flanked a gaunt 6’4” freshman. The three turned their backs to a cool March wind and stared down at the bicycle rack in front of Post Oak Dorm. CJ involuntarily felt the underside of a two week old engagement ring with her thumb as the trio examined the front wheel—all that remained of an eight hundred dollar bicycle. A plastic coated chain faithfully clung to the part left behind. CJ wondered when students would learn that front wheels on expensive bicycles come off in about six seconds.

Twin portable police band radios came to life with the voice from dispatch and a message that would put an end to the discussion of the bike theft. The voice on the radio alerted the two officers to a possible auto theft at the Gamma Alpha Gamma sorority house. The radios relayed a second message from a patrol officer. A red Mini Cooper sat in the reflection pool in front of the library.

Chief Moore gave a quick nod when CJ suggested, “Let’s stop by the sorority house first. It’s on the way to the library.” The chief then added, “This is your show to run. I’m not going to say a word unless you ask me a question.” CJ knew she was being tested. If she passed, the responsibility of leadership would be hers.

CJ rang a doorbell which played the first two bars of the sorority’s theme song, I’ll Ever be True to Gamma. A young woman clad in cashmere answered the door. A sorority pin, which included a delicate chain attached to a tiny silver gavel, told the lawmen they were in the presence of the chapter president. The trio stepped into a Queen Anne furnished sitting room bedecked with silver tea sets and framed prints of Renoir, Degas and Matisse.

Chief Moore examined the pictures on the wall while CJ faced the young woman and began with the most obvious question first. “Do you have any idea who might have done this?”

The blond introduced herself as Courtney, but looked more like a Buffy or even a Barbie, complete with dream house. The young woman did not hesitate. “Yes. It was—like—those no good Phi Gamma Deltas. I—like—broke up with their president last week and started dating the pledge master of the Beta’s. I know they did this to—like—get back at me. Some girls from the Delta Delta Rho house next door saw—like—everything. At—like—two o’clock this morning about—like—twenty of them just—like−picked it up and carried it toward the library.”

As she left the sorority house, CJ turned to Chief Moore, batted her eyelashes, and in a voice that parroted the sorority president asked, “How about you and me—like—go to the reflection pool and—like—take a look at—like—the car?”

Chief Moore nodded and replied, “Sounds—LIKE—a good idea.”

The library’s water feature would fit snugly in four lanes of a bowling alley. Six arching streams of water erupted from the north end of the three foot deep pool and fell just short of two unblinking headlights. The charge ‘Auto Theft’ seemed incongruent with the absurdity of the sight.

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