“Understood. We’ll send two cars right away and request they hold back until you arrive.”

“Thank you.”

“What a freaking waste of time this is,” Jeannie said. “We’ve got better things to be doing than chasing down a lunatic who can’t take no for an answer.”

“We’re on hold with the serial rapist case until we get the FDS results,” Freddie said. “And P.S., good job with the mother.”

“She was pissing me off. If I ever lie to cops on behalf of my kid, give me a slap upside the head, will you?”

“I suspect that won’t be an issue for you or your future child.”

“I’d smack the crap out of my kid if they behaved the way Jaycee has.”

“I hear you. Me, too.”

When they arrived in the grandmother’s neighborhood, Jeannie called Stafford County to let them know they were pulling up to the address.

“Our officers are ready to provide backup, Detective.”

“Thanks again.”

Freddie and Jeannie parked on the street and walked up a long driveway.

“That’s her car.” Freddie pointed to a white Nissan Altima. “I remember it from the time we watched Cam play football when he was seeing her.”

They waited for the Stafford officers to join them.

“Can you take the back?” he asked Jeannie and two of the officers.

“Yep.”

“Be ready for her to run.”

“I hope she does,” Jeannie said as she went around to the back of the house with two of the Stafford officers, while the other two stood off to the side as Freddie knocked on the door.

When an older woman answered, he showed her his badge. “I’m looking for Jaycee Patrick.”

“She’s not here.”

“Yes, she is. That’s her car. Can you please ask her to come to the door? It’s either that, or we’re coming in after her.”

“You can’t come in here without a warrant.”

Freddie held up his phone as if to say he already had the warrant, though he was still waiting. She didn’t need to know that. “What’s it going to be? The easy way or the hard way?”

The woman stepped back from the door and turned. “Jaycee! Come here right now.”

A flash of movement inside caught Freddie’s attention. “She’s heading for the back door,” he called to the other officers.

He bolted from the front porch and ran around the house to help Jeannie take her down as she came out the back door. They had her facedown on the ground and cuffed before she knew what hit her.

“That was fun,” Jeannie said as Jaycee screamed about police brutality.

“Most fun I’ve had all day.”

“I’ll have your badges for this,” Jaycee said, her face purple with outrage.

“Knock yourself out,” Jeannie said as they walked her back to the car to transport her to the city jail.