Thanks to monkeybaby, DaughterofRivers, decadenceofmysoul, seleneplaysgames, ItsJustBecca, Taylor Noelle Hood, and MyFandoms7 for your reviews. Somebody is definitely in trouble. Again I'm really nervous about this chapter and the next one and really hope that I've done it justice and haven't gone overboard.
When the lights and sirens began to flash behind her as she took Jake and his friends home, she prayed it was just a misunderstanding and that she wasn't in that much trouble. She found a place on the side of the road to pull over and watched as the patrol car did the same. She had been following all the traffic laws, including watching her speed, so she wasn't sure what the stop was for. She put the car in park and then put her hands on the wheel as the officer walked up. "Any of you say anything stupid, I'll kill you all," Anna said to the boys in the back. "Just let me do the talking." The officer stepped up to the window and knocked so Anna put it down.
"Evening, Miss, can I see some ID?" he asked.
"Sure, as long as you stop shining the flashlight in my face and tell me why you pulled me over," Anna said as pleasantly as she could. He lowered the light to just below her chin as she pulled her driver's license from her back pocket.
As she handed it over, he answered her other question. "Do you know you have a brake light out?" The officer said.
"I didn't, it's his car. I know that's not an excuse and I should have checked it before I got behind the wheel." Anna motioned to Jake.
"I've been meaning to fix that," Jake said. Anna cringed internally. Knowing you had a brake light out and not getting it fixed was stupid and would automatically create a ticket. The officer held the license up and shined a light through it.
"Where'd you get the ID? This says you're 16 and according to the new law—"
"I got it from the DMV in March when I turned 16 and a half before the new law and everyone before that was grandfathered in. I promise I'm not breaking the law." Anna squinted at the nameplate on his chest. "I promise, Officer Thomas."
The officer looked at her then at Jake and then two in the back. "Have you been drinking tonight?" Thomas asked.
"No, sir. As you can see I'm not old enough." Anna smiled.
"You have registration for this car?"
"Jake, where is it?" Anna asked, turning towards him.
"Glove box," Pete answered when Jake didn't. Jake's hand moved to towards it and the officer's flashlight followed. He pulled it out and handed it to Anna who handed it to the officer. He looked it over then shined his flashlight back on the car's center console.
"Step out of the car, all of you."
"Officer, is that necessary?" Anna asked.
"Yes," Thomas said. They all got out and the officer and his partner, who had been standing on the other side of the car, moved them all to the sidewalk then Officer Thomas pulled the bottle from the console. "Open container," he said. "Want to tell me who was drinking?" Anna and the boys kept their mouths shut. She didn't want to rat out Jake but at the same time she didn't want to get in trouble for it. "Okay then, we'll just test you all."
"No, thank you," Anna said.
"Excuse me?" Thomas asked.
"I am refusing a field sobriety test, sir," Anna tried to be as polite as possible. "Any physical test can be misinterpreted due to the low lighting or the flashing lights or a number of other things and PBTs are notoriously unreliable. I think I'll wait until you decide whether or not to arrest me before I submit to any testing, Officer. I know you're just trying to do your job, but better safe than sorry."
"Fine then, you're under arrest for the busted brake light and outdated registration and public intoxication."
"Really?" Anna asked in disbelief.
"Sucks to be you," Jake said.
"You're all under arrest for open container and once I have you tested, Miss ... Reagan? As in?" he checked her ID again.
"Maybe," Anna said softly as his partner radioed for backup.
"Well, either way, I can arrest the three of you for endangering the welfare of a minor for giving her the alcohol in the first place."
"But only if the results come back positive," Anna added. He read them their rights after ordering them to place their hands on the car then handcuffed Jake and Anna and waited for the other radio car and those officers handcuffed Sal and Pete. As Officer Thomas lead her to the back of the car, his partner took Jake, Anna saw the writing on the quarter panel. 54PCNT9618. She swore under her breath.
"What was that?" Thomas asked.
"Nothing," she answered softly as she glanced back at him. The last four numbers were the car number, the same as the license plate, PCNT stood for precinct, and the first two numbers were the precinct number. She was in deep trouble. Though she thought she had misread it, the numbers on his collar brass were the same two and it just confirmed how much trouble she was in. "You had to pick Manhattan didn't you, Jake?" Anna asked as she slid in beside him. "Just had to be Manhattan."
"What's wrong with Manhattan? It's a great city," Jake said.
"You have the right to remain silent, Jake; I suggest you try your hardest to do so." Jake looked at her but did as she asked. The rest of the ride to the station was quiet. When they got there the desk sergeant looked at her, at Officer Thomas, then back at her.
"Detective Reagan isn't here," Sergeant Hannigan said.
"You know Detective Reagan?" Thomas asked.
"She's—" Hannigan started.
"You could say that," Anna cut him off. "I know a lot of people. That's not why I'm here, Sergeant. Is it Officer Thomas?"
"DWI, open container, and refusing a field sobriety test," Thomas said.
"I'm not taking any test or saying another word until my lawyer gets here, sir," Anna said.
"You have that right," Hannigan said as Thomas handed over Anna's license. "What teenager doesn't have a phone?" he asked. Thomas searched her pockets and pulled her phone from her back pocket causing a card to fall from the pocket as well. Thomas bent down and picked it up. He looked at it clearly and saw it was a detective curtesy card. He flipped it over and saw the name, phone number, and precinct number on the back and a look of understanding came over his face before turning to a look of dread.
"Oh," Thomas said.
"I did not play that card, please, I did not play that card, please," Anna begged, turning to Hannigan.
"Take her upstairs to the interrogation room and let Gormley know what's going on," Hannigan answered.
"No, please don't. Just put me in a holding cell and let me call my lawyer. It'll be bad enough when they see the report. Please, Sarge, don't speed up the inevitable."
Hannigan ignored her. "What are they in for?" he asked, turning to Thomas and motioning to the other three boys.
"Endangering the welfare of a minor and open container. Those two also public intoxication," Thomas said then motioned to Jake and Sal.
"Okay," Hannigan said. He handed her license and phone back to Thomas and he led her upstairs. Once in the interrogation room, he uncuffed one hand and cuffed the other to the table then handed her the phone.
"One phone call," Officer Thomas told her.
Anna scrolled through her contacts and found the one she was looking for and called. Soon she was talking to the man himself. "You said if I needed help I could call. I really need help."
"What did you do?" he asked.
"Why do you assume I did something?" Anna asked.
"You're in enough trouble to call me; it's typically your fault."
"Point." He held silent and waited for Anna to continue. "Okay, I'm in trouble, but I can't tell you over the phone or in front of the arresting officer."
"Can I give you any advice right now?"
"The law regarding breathalyzer testing."
"Since you said arresting officer, I take it you've been arrested so if one of their claims is DWI, take the test. Easiest one is a breathalyzer. Take it and I'll deal with everything else when I get there."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Where are you?"
"5-4 precinct. Thank you." She hung up and offered the phone back to the officer. "I'll submit to a breathalyzer test now." Thomas didn't say anything, just retrieved the kit then stared at the results when he got them. Anna only smirked. He left the room and Anna drummed on the table. When the door opened again, Anna looked up from her dancing fingers to see a Latina she didn't know. She looked her over and that's when her eyes landed on the gold shield at her waist. "Evening, Detective."
"Hi. Want to tell me why you're here?" the detective asked.
"I have the right to remain silent and have lawyer present during all questioning and anything I do say can be used against me. As a detective, the prosecutor can call you to testify against me and twist my words. I think I'll wait for my lawyer before we talk any farther about my case."
"Smart. My name is Maria Baez."
"Ah. My dad's new partner. You look like you didn't need that statement to tell you who I was though. If you're here that means he's not far behind." Anna looked through the window into the squad room. She didn't see him at first. His desk was empty and she couldn't see the coffee maker but then Gormley's door opened and both men stepped out. Anna could read Danny's face perfectly. "He looks pissed. I am in so much trouble," Anna said softly.
"Probably." Baez nodded.
"You know, my dad has had five partners in the past three years alone."
"It's a tough job, not everyone is cut out for it."
"Are you?" Anna asked.
"I hope so," Baez answered.
"Despite the way my dad comes off, he really does care about his partner." Baez smiled.
"Not another word, Ms. Reagan," a voice said from near the door. "Detective, I need a word with my client." Baez looked at the man then stood and left the room.
"Well?" Danny asked when Baez joined him and Gormley.
"She refused to talk about it. Told me about you though. Seems like a smart kid. Who's that lawyer with her?" Baez said.
Anna looked up at her lawyer and smiled. "Sorry, it's so late," Anna said.
"It's fine, tell me what happened."
"It's Jim's birthday and he's my best friend. His brother wanted to celebrate with him because they've been so busy but Jim didn't want to go to a club or a bar so he invited me. Jim gave his brother two options, Roadie's or Empire Chicken. Thinking back now I should have insisted on the chicken place because it's in the 12th precinct and there's a better chance that they would have let me go instead of making me sit in an interrogation room and I wouldn't be getting death stares. Anyway, Jake insisted on Roadie's because he wanted to watch the game, Brooklyn Nets vs the Bulls. So we sat there for over two hours as he and his two friends watched the game and drank. We went outside and Jake pulled another bottle from his trunk. I talked to Jim about not letting him or Sal drive. How can I live with that on my conscious if something were to happen? They could cause an accident and it'd be all my fault. Besides I was well within my curfew so taking them home wasn't a problem. We got Jake in the car and headed to Sal's. He lives in Tribeca so it wasn't that far away or out of the way. Maybe 10 minutes from the sports' bar, lights and sirens came on. They pulled us over and asked for my license. When he asked for the registration, he saw the open bottle in the console and arrested all of us."
"Tell it again," he told her. She sighed but told him again. "Again."
"Uncle Jack," Anna finally protested.
"One more time. I want to make sure I have it right."
"No, you want to make sure I'm not lying to you. Tell the same story over and over again and if you tell it word for word, you've made it up and you're lying. I only drank soda tonight and the bottle and the car were Jake's. Please, get me out of this."
"Okay," Jack answered. "I'll see what I can do." Jack stepped out for a minute and Anna hung her head. In doing so she missed her dad talking to Jack. She did look up when the door opened again. Jack walked in followed by an older looking man who looked at her suspiciously. She suspected that he was the riding ADA.
"I've read the reports; your client is being charged with underage DWI, open container, and two moving violations. I'm prepared to offer her probation, community service, and a fine."
"And we're prepared to prove that you have no case. If you look at the results of the BrAC, you'll see she hasn't had a drop of alcohol that negates the DWI charge. As far as the other charges, you should speak to the other boys," Jack said. The ADA flipped through his papers and looked at one, presumably the results of the test showing she had blown a point 00. When that happened it meant that she hadn't had a drink in over two hours or rather since way before they had left the restaurant, so she hadn't been under the influence the entire time she had been behind the wheel.
"Well then why don't I just see what they have to say." The man left the room and Anna turned to Jack.
"He's going to kill me, isn't he?" Anna asked.
"Your dad? If you tell him what happened and how you were just trying to do the right thing, I'm sure he'll understand," Jack said.
"You have more faith in my dad than I do."
"Come on, Anna, he's usually really good at hearing both sides. He did during my divorce."
"Yeah, but when he hears DWI and arrested, he'll turn that understanding off. Do you think my mama knows?" Jack checked his watch then showed Anna. "Only if Jim called her. My curfew isn't for another hour."
"You think your dad hasn't called her."
"I've been watching him, he hasn't." Anna swallowed. "Unless you called her."
"I didn't not call her."
"Aunt Erin?"
"Before you go through the roster, I didn't call anyone. You're going to have to face your family on your own," Jack said.
Anna's face fell. "What's the use of having you to get me out of things if you're not going to do it all the time?" she asked.
"They're your family, Anna. They'll understand."
"You think I'm going to have to stay here overnight?"
"Depends on what those boys say."
"Between you and me, it might be safer, give me time to cool off."
"Anna," he scolded. Though his tone was slightly harsh, he only looked mildly disappointed.
She sighed and they waited close to 45 minutes for the ADA to return. When he did, Officer Thomas was with him. Thomas walked over and uncuffed her hand as the ADA looked at her. "Jake Miller has taken full responsibility for what happened. Your record will be cleared and you're free to go," he said.
"So the arrest won't be on my record?"
"No. No charges were filed and you weren't booked or arraigned," the ADA said.
"Will you take me home?" Anna asked, looking up at Jack.
"Your father will take you home," Jack said. "You'll get my bill in the mail."
"Uncle Jack!" Anna cried as her license, curtesy card, and phone were returned.
"Sorry, kid. He insisted." Anna swallowed and reluctantly followed Jack out of the interrogation room. She hadn't made it more than five steps when Danny walked over and grabbed her bicep then instantly landed a good, hard swat against her backside. Though it surprised her more than hurt her, she still let out a tiny squeak.
"The hell were you thinking?" Danny growled. Anna looked up at Jack, lost. "Don't look at him, answer me."
She could tell his temper was hanging on the verge of exploding and with so many people still in the squad room despite it being so late at night, many of whom were discretely watching them, Anna didn't want to make it worse. "I—" Anna stared but Jack cut her off.
"Danny, maybe now isn't a good place," Jack said.
"You didn't want your kid so don't tell me how to deal with mine," Danny snapped, but none-the-less he followed Jack's advice and dragged her out of the station and down to the Jeep. That's where Jack left them. "Get in," Danny ordered. Anna climbed in the passenger seat and soon they were on their way home.
Please, please, let me know what you think.