We walked toward Kyra's Camaro, and I couldn't help thinking about the scene we just left. It's not that I cared about Leroy or that boy. It was more like, if today's events ever reached my father's ears, we would be dead on sight.
My chest tightened as I thought of him.
I fear that man more than these streets.
If only they could take me now, I would go peacefully, perhaps with a smile.
"Get away from my car!"
I snapped back to reality after hearing Kyra's voice.
I followed her gaze.
There they were. Two figures standing beside it, suspiciously.
Perhaps they were thugs.
I looked closer, with high hopes.
"Miss, is this your car?" said one of them.
"Are you deaf? I said get away!"
They came into view as they closed the distance between us.
No... not them.
Huh... that figures.
They both wore powder blue shirts, with a five-point star badge on the left side of their chest, tucked in navy blue pants.
Police officers.
"Let's not act recklessly." I said to her.
"Don't make this harder than it is."
"I'm not going anywhere."
She's really ignoring me.
The officer didn't respond.
Instead he neared, pulling out handcuffs from his back belt.
Kyra reacted instantly.
No... don't.
Before he could cuff her, she stomped hard on his foot.
Damn, that could cost us .
"I'm not going anywhere with you!"
The officer grunted in pain.
Then, he ground his teeth, growling, as he raised his head.
"B****!"
He charged aggressively, grabbing both of her arms. Kyra struggled for a while, trying to break free.
"Get away from her!"
I turned to a frustrated Josh charging at the officer.
The fool was about to get hurt.
But to my surprise Kyra stopped shaking.
"Fine... I'll go with you."
Josh stopped in his tracks, stunned.
"Kyra... seriously?"
"Just stay away."
The boy couldn't comprehend her actions, neither could I. I'm just relieved she yielded.
The officer cuffed her hands instantly.
"Why?"
Josh's voice cracked, eyes squinting as he held back tears.
"..."
It felt like he was going to break soon.
I almost feel sorry for him.
I looked away, choosing not to intervene.
"Fred." said the next officer, reaching out to his partner. "I think we should search that house."
Oh... no. I got tense, my eyes widening.
He was pointing at Leroy's house.
"Yeah, be quick about it."
The officer rushed in cautiously, gun on hand.
My eyes landed on Kyra. She kept her head down. I couldn't tell if the feeling between us was shared, or if something else was bothering her.
Josh on the other hand, just stood there staring; frozen, and powerless.
Not reacting.
Then, the officer returned walking down the stairs, a cuffed Leroy in front of him.
He didn't speak or resist.
"I found traces of heroin and an unconscious body."
"Is he responsible?"
"For the heroin, but he claims that the body was the girl's doing."
Damn.
"Is the victim deceased?"
"No."
At least he was alive.
Before leaving, that guy, Fred, turned his gaze toward me and Josh.
"Let's take the kids too, they could be potential accomplices."
He literally saw us as accomplices.
That's just not right.
But I can't blame him, not even a seven-year-old can be trusted during the day.
We left, walking a while until reaching a panda car across the street.
Their police car.
They shoved us in the back, even though it was a bit cramped.
"Hand over your keys." said the officer extending his hand.
She gave him silently, hesitantly.
Thankfully.
One of the officers sat in the driver's seat. He turned the car key, and we rolled away from the curb.
The roar of Kyra's Camaro could be heard from behind us. I turned to look at her, but she didn't seem to be bothered. She was unusually silent for the rest of the trip.
She wasn't the only one.
Leroy didn't even show the slightest bit of resentment toward us, he didn't even look at us.
Once we arrived at Hyde Park Station, we were immediately placed in juvenile rooms.
Josh and I stayed together, since we were minors.
Leroy was probably in an adult cell because he wasn't with us.
Kyra was the same age as him, but exceptions might have been made, since she was a girl.
We sat silently in unfamiliar rooms, surrounded by strangers, and a harsh light above us that didn't seem to be going off soon.
At some point I must have dozed off, sleeping uncomfortably on an old dusty bench.