What is the initial conflict between Roy and Beatrice Leep? Explain how their interactions move the plot along.

In Carl Hiaasen's novel Hoot, the initial conflict between Beatrice "The Bear" Leep and Roy Eberhardt is about Roy's interest in the running boy. Roy notices the barefoot boy in chapter one as Dana Matherson is smashing his face against the bus window. In chapter two, Roy pushes past Beatrice in order to chase the running boy. Beatrice confronts him later in chapter two in this exchange:

"Standing there, arms folded, was the tall blond girl with red-framed eyeglasses—the one he'd encountered on the bus. The girl looked extremely unhappy.
'You nearly knocked me down this morning,' she said.
'Sorry.'
'Why were you running?'
'No reason.' Roy tried to get past her, but this time she sidestepped in front of him."

She continues to press Roy for information, and he tries to explain that he had just hit Dana Matherson, and that was the reason he ran. She accuses him of chasing someone, and Roy is encouraged that someone else had seen what he had seen. He didn't know yet that Beatrice was the running boy's step-sister or that she was trying to protect him. Their interactions help move the plot forward, because as Roy continues to try to pursue and help the running boy, Beatrice decides to trust him with the secret that her brother, "Mullet Fingers," is supposed to be away at private school but has run away. Mullet Fingers is responsible for the vandalism on the construction site, as he is trying to save the burrowing owls. Roy gets involved in Mullet Fingers's quest but wants to do things lawfully rather than Mullet Fingers's way.
Throughout the story, Beatrice and Roy join forces to help Napoleon Leep, who is better known as Mullet Fingers, not only in his quest to save the owls but also in helping him when he is attacked by dogs. Beatrice and Roy move from initial enemies to allies as they team up to help Mullet Fingers in his mission to save the burrowing owls who will be destroyed by the construction of the Mother Paula's Pancake House. Their alliance carries the plot through to the climax of the novel, which is the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new restaurant. This is when Roy reveals that there are owls on the property. With his father's and Beatrice's help, Roy uncovers a plot to cover up the environmental report that stated the owls were on the property and protected by law.