CHAPTER 16-XVI
Everything after that was a blur of crimson and flashing cop car lights in my mind. I only registered the fact that my best friend in the whole world was reduced to no more than a pile of bloody remains, lying on the edge of the bridge. I think most of him went into the water, along with Dunlop, though.
I was stricken with horror as I stared at the crimson stained gun, still smoking from the two shots. I couldn't believe it. St. Jimmy, the vivacious, loud, Jimmy whom everyone knew because he damn well made sure they knew, was gone. It was unreal.
It felt to me as though I stood there for hours. Somebody had called the cops, because before I knew it, another cop was gently snapping handcuffs over my wrists and I was led to a police car. I was so mechanical, in my shock, and did everything mechanically, even losing what bits of food I'd had for dinner when I realized how much blood and filth was everywhere. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the rearview mirror, but didn't recognize myself. I was pale and hollow-eyed, looking as dead as Jimmy was.
I was guided into the station by three cops, all of whom I'd never remember. The station was freakishly bright, and far too close to the warehouse. In fact, it was on the same street. East Twelfth. I vaguely remember Jimmy saying once that he didn't want to walk too far everyday. It had made me laugh hearing it then, but now I just wanted to curl up and cry.
Mom and Brad sat on the hard wooden bench in the waiting room. Mom leapt up to hug me and all sorts of motherly things, but one of my flank held up his hand and directed her back. I guess I was rather thankful for that, really, though my mind was still detached from everything.
There was a lot of talk, but I don't remember any of it. The next thing I knew, a pile of papers was pushed in front of me, and a pen handed to me. I took it in my left hand, before remembering that I was right-handed, and started mechanically filling them out. My name, I must have signed 20 million times that night, though my shocked mind didn't comprehend what it was. Information about me, such as my birthday. I accidentally filled out Jimmy's birthday, and my mom placed her hand over mine to stop me writing, and whispered my mistake to me, and I corrected it with a blank expression. Then, the police talked to my parents for awhile, and tried to get me to talk, but I didn't answer very much. I wasn't at all helpful to them, which they should have realized from the start, so they led me to one of the empty cells and locked me in. I curled up in the corner, staring at the bricks on the wall, and I think I fell asleep after that, with my mom's promise that she and Brad would take me home in the morning.
The whole night seemed so surreal.