After Officer Locke brought me into the central booking area, he escorted me to the area of the local jail known as the “Drunk Tank.” Admittedly, I’d been there before. I’d spent many nights there sobering up from a night of drunken stupidity.
Officer Locke politely shoved me inside, not bothering to remove my cuffs or even putting them in the front to easy my aching shoulders like a normal, compassionate person would have.
I tried not to let on that my arms, shoulders and now neck were starting to hurt like crazy.
As much as I had been somewhat looking forward to the time alone to think and plot my next move, unfortunately I wasn’t alone in the drunk tank. The man sitting at the opposite end of the long, slim jail cell was a drunken homeless guy. Or at least I assumed he was a homeless man. He smelled like a homeless guy who’d been drinking paint-thinner or something.
I leaned back and rested my head against the cool bars of the cell. I shut my eyes and tried to think. Nothing seemed to come to me. All I could think about was Olivia and the look on her face. The tears streaming down her perfect cheeks would scar me forever. I’d never be able to shake that image from my subconscious.
The homeless man across from me started singing. When I sat down he was humming, and now he was graduating to a song with actual words just to aggravate me.
“I hear the train a comin’ / It’s rolling round the bend / And I ain’t seen the sunshine since I don’t know when, / I’m stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin’ on / But that train keeps a rollin’ on down to San Antone….” He slurred.
I secretly considered myself a closet Johnny Cash fan. I knew how to play most of his songs on my guitar; they were the first songs I ever taught myself to play.
But now was absolutely not the time or the place for that kind of song. And even though it had been one of my favourites, I found myself quickly getting irritated.
The drunken homeless guy paused, and for a moment I thought he was going to pass out. Instead, he continued singing. “I bet there’s rich folks eating from a fancy dining car / They’re probably drinkin’ coffee and smoking big cigars./ Well I know I had it coming, I know I can’t be free…”
I was about ready to snap, but before I could say anything, there was a loud clinking noise at the metal door. “Hanson.” The officer commanded. “Come with me please.”
I sighed and pushed myself to my feet. The officer started removing my cuffs and fastening them into the front.
I didn’t want to give the officer the satisfaction of knowing that my shoulders were killing me.
I glanced at the homeless man who seemed to be unaware that there was another person in the room.
“You missed a verse.” I informed the homeless man.
The homeless man promptly stopped singing, and turned to me.
“The verse about shooting a man in Reno to watch him die.” I clarified.
He smiled at me and nodded. “So I did, son.” He smirked. “You’re right.”
The officer put his hand on my shoulder and ushered me from the holding cell. He marched me down a long hallway to a small room at the end. There was a table and three chairs. I’d been in a room like this before, it was one where they questioned people and took statements.
The officer pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit. I plopped down on the chair and he sat across from me.
There was a file on the table, and I knew it contained my files. Where most people would have been tempted to look, I simply shut off my ability to care.
The officer sat across from me. He watched me for a moment. “I’m officer Harrison. I’m here to take your side of what happened, if you choose to tell me. Do you understand your rights?”
I nodded. I understood.
“Do you care to tell your side of the story?” The officer asked.
“Will it matter?” I replied.
“It might.” He shrugged. “That depends entirely on what you have to say.”
I drew in a deep breath.
The door opened and shut loudly behind me. I didn’t bother to turn to see who was coming in. I was sure I knew who it was. And as the second officer moved around the table, I knew immediately. Officer Locke was coming to make sure that his plan to put me away for good was working.
Officer Locke stood behind Officer Harrison, leaning against the cement brick wall. He crossed his arms and glared at me.
I was almost tempted to laugh at him. He was trying to appear touch but he ended up just looking stupid.
“I have the right to an attorney, correct?” I asked.
Officer Harrison nodded.
“Then I would like to wait for my public defender.” I paused. “Please.”
Officer Harrison nodded. “Okay, son. But you do realize that should you choose to speak to a lawyer instead of giving your statement here, there is nothing more we can do for you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I think from where I stand it looks like I’m already screwed. It’s his word against mine, right? It looks like I don’t stand a chance. I’ve been here before. I want my lawyer.”
Officer Locke growled from across the room. He stormed toward the table and slammed his hands down on the table. “You’re going away for a long time! You’re a criminal; I’m putting you away before you do any more destruction in this town!” He spat.
“I’m clean.” I insisted. “Piss test me. I’ll give you a sample right here, right now. Where do you want it?”
“Listen you smug little…” He seethed.
“Locke.” Officer Harrison interjected.
“I’ve finally got you.” He smirked.
“Right. And how much did you have to pervert justice to make that happen?” I asked. “If I’m as bad as you say I am, then by all means, put me away.” I warned. “But are you willing to risk your career to find out that I’m not?”
Locke stormed from the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
I swallowed thickly. “I’d like to be shown to my cell now, please. I’ll wait for my public defender there.”
Officer Harrisson gaped at me for a moment, then nodded slowly.
He stood and refastened my cuffs in the back. He gave me ample time to fight back or to resist, but I wasn’t going to. I’d given up. There was no point in resisting.
I had nothing left. I was already in jail, so as far as my parents were concerned, I was guilty. Olivia would have nothing to do with me, not after the humiliation I’d put her through. I’d had a good thing, but that was all gone now.
I had no other choice but to shut down my emotions and get used to the cold hard reality that this was all I would ever know.
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