Thirteen days, three hours and fifteen minutes. That's how long it took for my cousin to snap. I'll hand it to her though. She was tough to crack. Apparently, detectives don't like it when you bluntly break the law. Especially when you break the law in front of their ex-husband. Dan took me into a holding cell a few hours ago. I think. I am not too sure. He took my phone from me and nobody wears watches anymore. I had called cousin Chloe ages ago and was expected for a full ear chew. She sounded royally pissed on the phone though. I don't care. I don't want to be at her house. I don't want her and her rules. I was born after her dad, my uncle, died and we don't talk. Or at least we didn't. That was until I found a dead body.
You see my mom carked it six months ago which led to five months in foster care, but I didn't mind foster care. There was no real command in group homes. Me and the other girls would sneak off every night to the park down the road and smoke a mixture of marijuana and cigarettes and drink whatever alcohol we could find. That's how I met Chloe. On one of mine and Tori's midnight runs we came across a body. We called the cops and boom there she is. We made our introductions and linked our last names. She gave me her number and I gave her mine. She then started her training and paperwork to be my guardian. That was all approved last Tuesday. Dan walks through the door with a small folder and a frown.
"Mabel Rosalee Decker. My name is detective Daniel Espinoza. You are here facing charges of larceny and vandalism…" Dan started but I stopped him almost immediately.
"What's larceny?"
"Stealing,"
"What did I steal?" I ask acting dumb
"Mabel…"
"It's just Mae"
"You have been accused of stealing a bike," He sighed knowing full well I rode a display bike out of Walmart
"Outrageous accusations! What proof do you have?" I smile. I swear I could hear something or someone behind the mirror
"We have enough to charge,"
"I'm a fourteen-year-old orphan who committed petty theft and drew a picture in a tunnel. I'm not going to jail," I shrug smugly
"No but you don't want this on your record, do you?"
"Records are wiped when you turn 18,"
He didn't respond. He just left. He knew he couldn't argue with me. I waited in the chair patiently but after such a long time of being alone I grew bored. I stood up and stared walking around the table. Then I started running. Then trying to bounce from chair to chair. If someone was in the observation room, they surely didn't say anything. I jumped onto the table and laid there looking at the white roof. I think all this running around was making me tired. I started to drift asleep.
BANG
I shot up off the table and ducked. Was that a gun? No, it was Chloe angrier than ever.
"Chloe! Where have you been? I…"
"Shut up," she glared at me "Get your stuff and don't say anything,"
My throat dropped to my stomach with her icy tone I dropped gaze to the floor feeling a decade younger than what I actually was "I was gunna return it. Dan was there and he just took me straight away and I – I – I – I," I stumble as Chloe grabbed my upper arm a delivered a quick succession of six slaps to my bottom "Stop! Shit I mean I'll be quiet"
"We are going to discuss things further at home Mae,"
I just nod though the tears, looking down. She grabs my wrist as we walk out of the interrogation room.