Our quiet drive was interrupted by a police siren and flashing lights behind us. I glanced in the passenger’s side mirror and frowned.
“Oh, shit.” Olivia cursed. “What the hell did I do?” She demanded. There was nowhere that she could pull the car over safely, so Olivia pulled her father’s car into an alley.
She shut the car off and rummaged through her purse for her license. She was already getting the registration out of the glove box. I was waiting for the cop to come around to her side of the car, but instead he came to mine and tapped on the glass.
I rolled down my window.
“Good afternoon, officer?” Olivia said sweetly. “Did I do something wrong?”
“You didn’t do anything.” The police officer answered. “But he did.”
I knew instantly that I recognized the police officer. “Crap.” I mumbled.
“I’m going to need you to step out of the vehicle.” He said to me.
“Isaac?” Olivia asked worriedly.
“It’s alright.” I said. “I’ll handle it, and I’ll be right back. Stay in the car.” I instructed.
A clear expression of panic crossed Olivia’s face. “But-“
I opened the door and stepped out into the cold air.
Officer Locke folded his arms over his chest. “Long time no see, Isaac. Where have you been hiding?” He sneered.
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m sure you know. I’m sure you’ve been looking into me, haven’t you?” I challenged.
“Watch it, boy.” He sneered. “I can throw you in jail without even probable cause. I can hold you for twenty four hours before I have to charge you, and I’m sure I’ll be able to find something to charge you with.”
“I’m clean. Do you want a piss test right here? Where do you want it?” I narrowed my eyes.
“Last chance.” Officer Locke said. He shone his flashlight in my eyes, temporarily blinding me. “Your pupils are dilated. What are you on?”
“Nothing. I’m clean. It violates my probation to even be near drugs or alcohol, you know that.” I spat.
“Officer, I’ve been with him all day. He hasn’t done anything wrong.” Olivia said, coming to the other side of the car.
“Liv, get back in the car. I’ll handle it.” The last thing I wanted was to drag her into this.
“Step back.” The officer warned. “I won’t hesitate to arrest you too.”
I half turned to Olivia. “It’s alright, just a misunderstanding.”
Officer Locke suddenly whipped me around and slapped the cold, hard handcuffs around my wrists.
“Hey!” I cried. “You have no right to do this! I’m clean, and I’m behaving!” I struggled.
“Quit resisting!” Officer Locke barked, slamming me hard against the hood of the vehicle. My cheekbone crashed against the hot metal of the car. I groaned out loud.
“I won’t hesitate from charging you with resisting arrest too. I am just looking for a chance to put a two-timing drug addict into jail for the second time.” He growled over my shoulder.
I couldn’t stand up or move with my arms behind my back. Officer Locke kicked my legs apart and searched my pockets. He dumped my wallet onto the ground, spilling any loose change I had.
“What are you doing in a car like that anyway? Did you steal it? Or is it her car?” He demanded.
It was none of his business and I didn’t feel the need to justify his questions with a response.
“In that case, what are you doing with a girl like that anyway? She’s too good for you.” He shoved me against the car roughly.
My face stung, quickly numbing in the cold night air.
“He hasn’t done anything wrong! You have no legal standing to search him! You have no probable cause!” Olivia said from the other side of the car. Her voice was shaking.
I could hardly even look at her, even if I wanted to.
“Shut up.” Officer Locke warned her. “He’s on probation. I can do whatever the hell I want to with him. Including throwing his ass in jail.” He spat.
“His probation is not justifiable cause for you to do an illegal search.” Olivia answered. “He’s adhering to the terms of his probation, and I will testify to that. And I will testify that you used unreasonable force and you will be charged with police brutality!” Olivia said.
I could hear the terror in her voice. “Olivia, I can handle it.” I replied.
She didn’t hear me.
“Don’t you threaten me, girl.” Officer Locke pointed a finger at her. “You do not know what you’re dealing with her. You do not know the system.”
“You may be right about that.” Olivia answered. “But I know someone who does. My father is Judge Donovan James. I can make one phone call to him, and we’ll see what’s happens after that.”
This seemed to stop Officer Locke in his tracks. He relinquished his hold on me, and I was able to turn to face Olivia.
Officer Locke sighed, and yanked me upright. He removed the cuffs, and my wrists screamed in pain from being rubbed raw on the cold steel.
“I may not have reason to arrest you tonight, Hanson.” Officer Locke warned. “But one day you’ll mess up. One day you’ll make a mistake. And I’ll be the one right there to throw your rotten ass in jail.” He warned.
He shoved my shoulder and stalked out of the alley to his car. He got into the driver’s side and peeled out of the alley, speeding off.
Olivia ran around the front of the car. “Are you okay?” She demanded. “Your face!” She lightly reached up to touch my cheek.
I brushed her hand away. “It’s fine.”
“What the hell was all that?” She demanded. “You didn’t do anything wrong!”
I sighed. “Locke has been out to get me since before the accident. He popped me a couple of times for shop lifting and minor possessions charges… He’s looking for me to make a mistake, just like he said.” I said, rubbing my sore wrist.
Olivia folded her arms over her chest. “He has no right! That’s not who you are anymore. I’m going to tell my father and he’ll do something.”
I could feel anger boiling up in my blood. “Don’t bother. He’s a bully, it won’t stop him.”
I raked my hands through my hair and paced across the alley. The buildings on either side were made of brick. I growled sharply and pulled back my arm slamming my fist into the brick wall as hard as I could. I could feel the skin on my knuckles tear.
“Isaac!” Olivia gasped. She was at my side in a second, grasping my hand between her tiny hands. “Oh, you’re going to need stitches.” She gasped. “We need to take you to the emergency room.”
I yanked my hand from hers. “I’m fine!”
Olivia gaped at me and for a second, I thought she might actually cry.
“Shit, Liv, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I placed my hands on her upper arms. “Sweetie, I didn’t mean it. I’m just mad and frustrated. That guy really gets to me. No matter how hard I try to make everything right, there’s something that creeps back…” I sighed. “I have tried so hard to keep you from this part of my life. You have no idea. And it seems like no matter what I do it’s just not good enough. I just can’t run from my past! And the worst part about it? The worst part about it is that he’s right. He’s completely right. You’re too good for all of this, and you don’t deserve it. You deserve someone way better than me.” I sighed, lightly cupping her cheek.
Olivia gaped at me, and for the second time looked like she was going to cry.
“Isaac!” Olivia gasped. “That is not true! You don’t realize how sweet and genuine you actually are. He is wrong about you. They don’t know the version of you that I know!” She paused, pursing her lips and choosing her words carefully. “This may be a little soon, and I’m sorry if this scares you away, but you need to hear it. I love you. I think I’ve loved you for a long time… And it’s okay if you don’t feel it back, but it’s how I feel and-“
Before she could finish her long, drawn out rant, I leaned toward her and gently kissed her. I brushed her hair back over her shoulder. “Oh, Liv. I love you too.” I whispered softly.
At first I wasn’t sure if I meant it, but when the words came out I knew in my heart they were true.
Olivia nestled her cheek into my palm, and sighed. “Will you let me take you to the emergency room now?”
I nodded. “Okay.”
I didn’t think I needed to go, but if Olivia was going to insist, I wasn’t going to start a fight. Not tonight, anyway.
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