After Officer Locke brought me into the central booking area, he escorted me to the area of the local jail known as the \u201cDrunk Tank.\u201d Admittedly, I\u2019d been there before. I\u2019d spent many nights there sobering up from a night of drunken stupidity.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
I tried not to let on that my arms, shoulders and now neck were starting to hurt like crazy.<\/p>\n
As much as I had been somewhat looking forward to the time alone to think and plot my next move, unfortunately I wasn\u2019t 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\u2019d been drinking paint-thinner or something.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0 I could think about was Olivia and the look on her face. The tears streaming down her perfect cheeks would scar me forever. I\u2019d never be able to shake that image from my subconscious.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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\u2026.\u201d He slurred.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The drunken homeless guy paused, and for a moment I thought he was going to pass out. Instead, he continued singing. \u201cI 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\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
I was about ready to snap, but before I could say anything, there was a loud clinking noise at the metal door. \u201cHanson.\u201d The officer commanded. \u201cCome with me please.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sighed and pushed myself to my feet. The officer started removing my cuffs and fastening them into the front.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t want to give the officer the satisfaction of knowing that my shoulders were killing me.<\/p>\n
I glanced at the homeless man who seemed to be unaware that there was another person in the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou missed a verse.\u201d I informed the homeless man.<\/p>\n
The homeless man promptly stopped singing, and turned to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe verse about shooting a man in Reno to watch him die.\u201d I clarified.<\/p>\n
He smiled at me and nodded. \u201cSo I did, son.\u201d He smirked. \u201cYou\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019d been in a room like this before, it was one where they questioned people and took statements.<\/p>\n
The officer pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit. I plopped down on the chair and he sat across from me.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The officer sat across from me. He watched me for a moment. \u201cI\u2019m officer Harrison. I\u2019m here to take your side of what happened, if you choose to tell me. Do you understand your rights?\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded. I understood.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you care to tell your side of the story?\u201d The officer asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill it matter?\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cThat depends entirely on what you have to say.\u201d<\/p>\n
I drew in a deep breath.<\/p>\n
The door opened and shut loudly behind me. I didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
Officer Locke stood behind Officer Harrison, leaning against the cement brick wall. He crossed his arms and glared at me.<\/p>\n
I was almost tempted to laugh at him. He was trying to appear touch but he ended up just looking stupid.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have the right to an attorney, correct?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
Officer Harrison nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I would like to wait for my public defender.\u201d I paused. \u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officer Harrison nodded. \u201cOkay, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
I narrowed my eyes. \u201cI think from where I stand it looks like I\u2019m already screwed. It\u2019s his word against mine, right? It looks like I don\u2019t stand a chance. I\u2019ve been here before. I want my lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officer Locke growled from across the room. He stormed toward the table and slammed his hands down on the table. \u201cYou\u2019re going away for a long time! You\u2019re a criminal; I\u2019m putting you away before you do any more destruction in this town!\u201d He spat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m clean.\u201d I insisted. \u201cPiss test me. I\u2019ll give you a sample right here, right now. Where do you want it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cListen you smug little\u2026\u201d He seethed.<\/p>\n
\u201cLocke.\u201d Officer Harrison interjected.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve finally got you.\u201d He smirked.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight. And how much did you have to pervert justice to make that happen?\u201d I asked. \u201cIf I\u2019m as bad as you say I am, then by all means, put me away.\u201d I warned. \u201cBut are you willing to risk your career to find out that I\u2019m not?\u201d<\/p>\n
Locke stormed from the room, slamming the door shut behind him.<\/p>\n
I swallowed thickly. \u201cI\u2019d like to be shown to my cell now, please. I\u2019ll wait for my public defender there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officer Harrisson gaped at me for a moment, then nodded slowly.<\/p>\n
He stood and refastened my cuffs in the back. He gave me ample time to fight back or to resist, but I wasn\u2019t going to. I\u2019d given up. There was no point in resisting.<\/p>\n
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\u2019d put her through. I\u2019d had a good thing, but that was all gone now.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n