We pick up Mike and I have to sit in the back seat where the criminals sit. I have to stay in the car and watch as they go and bust people, sometimes it's just pulling people over for speeding, and other times they go into people's houses and stop actual crimes, then I realize that someone would probably be getting in the car with us. Mike escorts and old man to the car and handcuffs him in.
"So, what are you in for, eh?" He says. He's got almost no teeth and his breath is foul.
"No talking," Mike demands. After that, the old guy shuts up. Mom takes him into the police station. Mike makes small talk with me, asking about summer school and stuff, then he asks about my hobbies just like AJ did.
"Oh, that's right, AJ says he's got some books for you. He's been meaning to drop them around, but you know how teenage boys are."
"Yeah, when they have a girlfriend." I laugh.
"I was going for forgetful." He laughs with me. I like him, he's nice. Brandon is a lot like him.
"So, what's it like being a cop?" I've never asked mom before, there's always something bigger going on, there's never time for small talk.
"Some days it's boring, some days it's near-death experiences."
"Seriously? Like guns and stuff?" I quiz him.
"Yeah, it can get pretty scary."
"Have you ever been shot?"
"I've been shot at, but I haven't been hit, I was there when Stef was hit, though."
"Wait, mom was shot? Wow, you'd think she'd quit after that."
"She's strong, she'd never let anything like that come between her and her passion," He praises her.
"Is it worth it?" I ask.
"Yeah, it is. Knowing the area is safe when people like me and Stef are around is pretty rewarding. Why do you ask, are you interested?"
"In being a cop? I don't know, it doesn't seem like me, and I don't think I could ever fire a gun. Not that I'd want to."
"So, what do you wanna do? When you grow up, I mean."
"I kind of like the idea of being a teacher, at a school like Anchor Beach. The teachers there don't just try and get you to do your work on time and stuff, they care. I've never been to a school like that before."
"That's probably down to Lena. What would you teach?"
"English, or Social Studies maybe." He gets distracted by the car radio going off.
"Disturbance on Seachase Street, Ashley Falls," The static voice says.
"Stef, are you getting this?" Mike says into the radio on his shoulder.
"Coming now." I see mom running out of the police station into the car.
"Foster and Adams-Foster responding, we'll be there ASAP with a ride-along." Mike starts the car. He puts the sirens on and everything.
"Was it Seachase street? That's where Greg lives."
"You want us to drop you off?" Mom asks.
"Are you kidding? No, step on it, Mike!" I have to make sure he's okay, although I don't get on with him that well, it doesn't mean I wish him bad things. After all, he is my flesh and blood father. We speed through the town until finally, we arrive at the scene. There's another cop car and an ambulance here, everything seems incredibly sinister. My instincts tell me something awful has happened. I try to open the door, but mom has locked me in. "Let me out!" I yell at her.
"You're not going anywhere." She and Mike get out and run inside. I sit waiting anxiously for everyone to come out and be okay, but my ears are met with a piercing gunshot that sends shivers down my spine. And then menacing silence again, taunting me.
Ten minutes of fear-ridden anxiety later, mom and Mike emerge from the house, they're both fine, no bullet wounds, no tears. Following them is two cops, they have Greg handcuffed between them, he looks angry, but he hasn't been shot either. Do I rejoice? He's done something wrong if they're arresting him. I watch as they force his head down and push him into their car. Next, I see two paramedics walk out with Freddie, he's walking, barely. He's been hurt, but also not shot. They have him breathing into an oxygen mask, I'm far away but I can see that his face even more black and blue than it was earlier, and he's bleeding from his nose and mouth. It can't be what it looks like, he wouldn't hurt his son. Would he? An older woman follows Freddie and the paramedics into the ambulance that drives right past me. Mom and Mike finally get back into the car, I watch the other cops drive away with Greg in the back seat.
"What happened?"
"We'll talk at home," Mom says.
"I heard the gunshot, mom, tell me," I demand.
"Gracie!" She snaps. "We'll talk at home!" She yells, her voice becomes thick when she raises it. I hate seeing her mad, whatever happened must have been bad.
"Why can't you just tell me?" I shout back.
"I'm not discussing this in my squad car, alright?" She doesn't shout this time but she's still mad. I sit quietly the whole drive home, twiddling my thumbs as I wait for an explanation, but I know I won't like it.
