Crown's Law by Wolf Wootan Page A

the
regular school system as intelligent as she was.
    “That’s a big order,” replied John Crown as
he tamped tobacco into his pipe. “That’ll take a lot of
figuring.”
    “Take your time. She’ll stay with us until
you come up with something. You can discuss it with Samuel. Maybe
he has some ideas. And I don’t want the child to know this, but
either you or Samuel will find the mother and that depraved
stepfather and see that they are properly punished!”
    “Now, Helena . . .”
    “Just do it! I mean it! He could be hurting
some other poor child! Take care of it! I know you know how to do
it.”
    “Yes, dear.”
    ***
    When Sam and Becky came up from the beach,
John Crown was drawn under Becky’s spell immediately. It could have
been that he thought of her as the grandchild he had always wanted,
but mostly it was Becky herself. She had a way about her that got
under people’s skin.
    John Crown sat out on the deck, smoking his
pipe, and chatting with her while Sam and his mother began
preparing dinner. Sam was going to barbeque some steaks. Becky
asked John about his fishing trip, and his boat, and what kind of
bait he used. She asked him what kind of work he did before he
retired, and when he said he had worked for the CIA, she had some
more questions.
    “I’ve been reading the encyclopedia, and I
read about the CIA. Were you a spy?” she asked.
    And so it went for an hour. By the time
dinner was served, John was in no hurry to get rid of Becky Rogers.
He would concentrate on what to do about her schooling first—and
then track down that bastard of a stepfather! In the meantime, she
could just stay here. Maybe he would take her fishing and . . .
    ***
    Sam got tied up on a job in Investigations International’s L.A. office on Monday and did
not get back down to the beach house again until Tuesday the 11th
of August. Becky was still there, of course. He arrived at 11:00
A.M. and found the three of them out on the deck sprawled on
lounges—redwood frames with soft pads covered in blue sail cover
canvas. Becky and Sam’s dad were playing chess—the chess board on a
round redwood table between their lounges—and his mother was on her
cell phone yakking away.
    They all looked up and waved to him. He waved
back, a dashing figure in his flowery Hawaiian shirt and dark
aviator glasses. The others were all in bathing suits, so Sam went
to his room and changed into one before joining them. He went to
the outside wet bar on the deck and fixed himself a Bloody
Mary.
    He strolled over and watched the chess game.
Becky was very close to checkmating John.
    “Hi, Sam,” she said, looking up at him, a
slight smile on her lips.
    “Hi, Becky. How have things gone for you
since I last saw you?” asked Sam.
    “Awesome! Your parents have been very kind to
me!”
    John Crown spoke up. “I’ve been trying to
find something I can beat her at, but so far no luck!”
    “I was happy just reading, Mr. Crown. This
was your idea!” giggled Becky.
    “The kid reads too much, Sam. I’m just trying
to give her a more varied set of activities. Why don’t you take her
in the water? I’ve lost this game!”
    “How about it, Becky? Want to hit the surf?”
asked Sam.
    “Sure. Can I use one of those body
boards?”
    “Grab one! Last one in is a rotten egg!”
    They were back after 30 minutes and Sam added
some ice to his Bloody Mary. Becky stretched out on a lounge to let
the sun dry her off, and began reading a technical tome, her funky
reading glasses perched on her nose.
    “She needs better glasses,” said Sam to his
mother, who was off the phone now.
    “I know, dear. I took her to Dr. Johansson
yesterday and her new glasses will be ready next Tuesday,” Helena
responded with a smile.
    Hmm , thought
Sam. Looks like Mom has a new project! Oh,
well. It’ll keep her young, and the kid does need help.
    Sam asked, “How did it work out—having Becky
here? She behaving OK?”
    “She’s an angel! There are some things