Sarah was currently driving through some backroads with a scared teenage girl quivering in the backseat. She realized the optics of the situation was not good, especially the 31-year-old cop side of her mind, but the spoiled teenager that the amulet had revealed was bubbling to the surface like a pot of liquid anger. She pulled off into the dirt shoulder and parked the squad car.
“Uh… this isn’t the precinct.” Burnice pointed out softly.
“Looks like we’re out of gas. The interrogation will have to happen here.” Sarah lied, making contact with the nervous girl in the rearview mirror. “Tell me, Burnice, do you have any sisters?”
“Wha- no. I’m an only child.” She replied with a quiver in her girlish voice.
“What are your parent’s names?”
“Robert and L-Lewis.” She replied.
“Lewis? Like Lewis Sanders? Tiffany- er, Zoe’s dad? Chief of police?”
“N-no. Lewis is my mom. Lewis McMillan.”
“They still live on 241 Birch?” Sarah asked.
“Uh… yeah. Why?”
“Let’s pay mom and dad a little visit.”
“Am I in trouble? Burnice asked. “Is this, like, about the cocaine and stuff? I thought you said we were gonna get off with, like, a warning.”
Sarah didn’t say another word for the rest of the drive, and Burnice didn’t dare make another peep. Not long after they pulled into the McMillan’s expansive driveway, Robert was coming out to see what was up.
“Can I help you, officer?” He asked shielding his eyes from the sun.
“Daddy- I mean sir, is this your daughter?” Sarah fumbled her words.
“Uh… yeah that’s my darling Burnice. Is there a problem?”
Sarah peered through the glass panes on the front door to see Mrs. McMillan standing there, only it didn’t look like her mom. The woman actually somewhat resembled Chief Sanders, only with the voluptuous hips and flowing blonde hair that she’d inherited from her mom. The only thing that seemed absent from this maternal lookalike was the McMillan bust that had gotten Sarah both out of and into so much trouble since the start of high school.
“Is… that your wife over there?” Sarah asked.
“Uh, yeah. Lewis, honey?” Robert beckoned his wife who came obediently.
They both looked at the officer expectantly.
“Oh your uh… daughter is fine. She was just… a little lost. But she’s home now, right?”
“Oh thank goodness, officer, thank you.” Lewis rejoiced. “Would you like to come in? I made snickerdoodles.”
Sarah’s mouth started watering. Her mom made the best snickerdoodles… but this imposter wasn’t her mom. She’d better put it to the test.
“I’d love to.” She feigned a smile and followed them inside.
Burnice still didn’t say a word, confused at what was going on.
Sarah and Burnice both absentmindedly kicked off their shoes and tossed them in the same spot, then looked at each other.
“Where’d you find her? We thought she was at cheer practice.” Robert mentioned.
“Oh well she was uh… playing a little hooky in the woods. Can’t blame her for having a little fun. Just glad she’s safe.” Sarah spoke with calculation.
“She wasn’t with that Jaylen guy was she? That boy is trouble.” Robert added as Mrs. McMillan put out the cookies.
Sarah wanted to butt in about how Jaylen Webber isn’t a bad guy, but she was distracted by the aroma of the fresh cookies. She picked one up and brought it close to her face. It sure smelled like how mom used to make them.
“No, dad. I have a boyfriend, remember?” Burnice reminded him. “Steve Meadows.”
The name felt like a glass plate shattering against Sarah’s ears just as she was taking a bite. She had to spit it out. That was her boyfriend.
“Oh yeah. Sorry hon for some reason I thought he was dating that ginger girl.”
“Gladys? No no he’s my boyfriend.” Burnice clarified.
“Is it too hot?” Lewis asked, Sarah’s half-regurgitated cookie with a polite smile.
“No no I just. I just remembered I have another case to… work on. Gotta go now.”
The hourglass-shaped man posing as her mom thanked her again and waved her goodbye, but Sarah could see through the facade.
“This little bitch.” Sarah grumbled as she turned over her engine. “This little fucking slut has the nerve to steal my life, replace my mom and fuck my boyfriend?? Not if I have anything to say about it.”
