Hang on for the ride! Amber

Chapter 21

Mollie had been expecting benchmarks all day today, instead they were reviewing. She was sad. She just told Ben that she was probably going to transfer to St. Mary's. He was bummed, but said that his parents were looking to transfer him to Bishop Ireton High next year since they were catholic. None of the smart boards or computers in the school were working. It was very strange. A drug sniffing dog came into the room and sat next to a kid's backpack. Mollie thought. 'Uh oh! That's a hit. He has something in there!' The policeman petted his dog. "Good boy!" Then he looked through the contents. The kid named Miles Schultz seethed. "Hey you can't do that! I have rights!"

"The school asked us to sweep for drugs son. Looks like you have a lot in this pocket here. Stand up hands behind your back. You have the right to remain silent…."

Suddenly the intercom announced. "Attention students and staff, all students are to remain in their current class rooms until the search of lockers are complete. We have police on the property that are also sweeping for illegal substances, there is a warrant for the searches and everyone is expected to corporate. Paper lunches will be served in your classes."

The door closed and the whole classroom started buzzing. "Oh my gosh! Can they search our lockers?"

Mollie shrugged. "If they have warrants they can."

Mrs. Jennings their English teacher soothed. "Okay everyone, don't fret. Let's get out some board games and cards. NO phones."

Mollie took a deck of cards. She dealt to Benjamin. "So poker no jokers."

He chuckled. "Sounds fine to me. Unless you want to play chess."

Mollie laughed. "You cream me in chess."

An hour passed and the classroom door opened. This time it was an officer and a man in a tie. "Who is Mollie Hardy?"

Mollie stood up. "I am who are you?"

"Detective Sergeant Benson, we found a laptop in your locker Miss Hardy that has been quite busy. You are under arrest for accessing a computer system without authorization in the first degree, accessing and using a computer system to obtain unauthorized computer services in the first degree, intentionally disrupting and degrading a computer system network denying access to authorized users in the first degree, and intentionally damaging equipment used on a computer network in the first degree."

Ben stood up and got between her and the officer! "That's crazy! She wouldn't! There has to be a mistake!"

Mollie's eyes filled with tears she turned her watch with the face facing her leg and pushing what looked like a dial. "You are being recorded. I don't have a laptop in my locker...there wasn't one there this morning!"

"Hands on your desk Miss Hardy...you step back young man put your hands up."

Mollie did as she was told and watched as Ben stepped back to his desk with his hands in the air. The detective started frisking her, he rubbed along her breasts, back, and even reached up her skirt rubbing her crotch. She felt dirty and embarrassed. Her tears fell and her lip trembled.

Ben bristled. "Hey you perv can't a girl officer do that?"

The detective said. "One more word young man and I will arrest you for interfering with a police investigation."

Mollie pleaded. "Ben please! I don't want you in trouble. You're my best friend carry on with the game okay. I appreciate you defending me. This is just a big misunderstanding." 'Mollie knew he would use the teachers phone to call his mom to call her parents. She had said 'carry on.'

The detective sergeant sneered as he put handcuffs on her. "Honey the damage you have caused is over thirty thousand dollars, that makes the crimes felony offenses. I'm going to make sure the DA tries you as an adult. You have the right to remain silent…"

The rest was a blur to Mollie as he perp walked her from the classroom. They stopped briefly at the office. Director Myers said. "Mollie as of this moment you are expelled from SSSAS. Take her out Detective. Her parents will come eventually to retrieve her belongings."

Mollie sobbed. "I want my mom and dad. Can I wait for them here?"

Myers snapped. "Absolutely not!"

Mollie was in shock. Her feet wouldn't move. She begged. "P..P..Please."

The detective sergeant roughly pulled her arm making her yelp in pain. "Resisting arrest Miss Hardy...that's another charge."

Mollie started crying, this couldn't be happening! "I want my phone call and a lawyer."

"Only criminals want lawyers." He said smiling wickedly. "This is the biggest collar of my career kid. You are going down." He shoved her in the car.

"First of all smart people want lawyers! Second, why are you doing this?" She went to sit up but he pushed her back onto the seat, she felt a sharp pain in her left shoulder. She screamed and black dots appeared across her vision. 'Don't pass out Mollie Grace!' "My shoulder!"

"Stop resisting!" He took her legs, and tied them to her arms.

She couldn't move and started panicking. "Please! I won't cause trouble! I can't breathe!"

"Yes you can! Stop resisting Miss. Hardy!" The detective sergeant barked.

"I'm not!" She forced herself to slow her breathing. There was no need to panic!' There were windows. 'He's a cop. Oh but he was going to be in trouble. Her grandpa was a retired cop and she knew that he would eat this man for lunch and spit him out. That's if her parents didn't get to him first. Her grandpa had consulted with over 800 police departments all over the world, and his reputation for unbiased justice was legendary. Her shoulder was killing her! He seriously threw her into his car and was restrained unnecessarily. She didn't resist arrest! She wasn't fighting him! This was excessive!' Thankfully the ride was short. 'What is this guys problem anyway? Jerk! He did untie her legs and replaced them with shackles. Confused she asked. "I want my mom and dad now."

"After you are processed."

Mollie was crying full force, she didn't bother trying to stop it. 'This was so humiliating! I never bring my laptop to school and I didn't do anything to justify this!' She felt one of the cuffs being released then her arms put in front and cuffed again.

"Put your hands on the scanner Miss."

Mollie looked up. She couldn't see through her tears. "What? Sorry?"

"Put your hands on the scanner." She replied more crisply.

Mollie did what she was told. She couldn't move her other shoulder. She used her hand to bring it up. Wincing she bit her lip. After her hands were scanned she was placed in front of a camera. "Hold this Miss."

Mollie looked at it. It was a placard with her name and a number on it. She held it up under her chin. A picture was taken.

"Turn to your left Miss and hold the card up please."

Mollie did what she was told. The picture was taken. Then the Detective Sergeant took her up some stairs to the left. He pulled her into a room with a light over the door. He flipped a switch. Mollie was uncomfortable. "I have to go to the bathroom."

"That can wait. I have questions."

Mollie narrowed her eyes in spite of her tears. "I want my mom, dad, and a lawyer."

"Sweetheart if you aren't guilty a few questions won't hurt."

Mollie sobbed. "You arrested meI I have rights don't I? I'm not answering one question without my parents and a lawyer!"

"I have the evidence to convict you dear. I don't need to question you. The laptop in your locker is the laptop that was used to hack your school's database. I know you probably didn't mean to cause all that damage. You probably meant it to be a little gag or joke. Isn't that right?"

Mollie wiped her eyes on the back of her hand. "Parents...lawyer."