Mostly because it was backed up with enough scientific evidence to ever refute it.
My eyes flashed from side to side, wondering what would happen next.
Unable to stop myself from grabbing a few snacks to watch and wait, I’d gotten two Dr. Peppers from the drink machine, as well as a couple rolls of Rolos.
I was on my first Dr. Pepper and my second roll of Rolos when Cedrick had come inside.
“Cedrick, we need to talk,” a large man wearing a casual uniform of black tactical boots, pants, and a tan polo shirt that had “KPD” and a gold star stitched on the breast pocket said. “Can you step over here for a minute?”
Wrong thing to say.
That set alarm bells off in the man’s head and he pulled his kid closer.
Since he was so close to me he hadn’t seen me sitting there, so he backed up until he was almost about to step back into me.
It worked for me, though.
“What’s going on?” Cedrick asked the slew of cops blocking him in.
“Just want to talk…” Mr. In Charge said softly.
The man took another step back, his daughter being pulled in his wake.
One more step and he’d be on top of me.
“I don’t think…”
I’d heard enough.
I’d also seen him tense. Watched as his hand tightened down to a viselike grip on his daughter’s hand.
I’d had enough.
He would not hurt this kid with me standing right there.
Almost as if I was having an out-of-body experience, I stood up, caught my Dr. Pepper can in my hand and went to stand on the chair behind me.
The cops tensed, but I didn’t so much as flinch as I brought the arm holding the full Dr. Pepper in my hand out in a wide arc, then slammed it against the man’s temple.
He started to drop, but I brought it back for one more good swing.
The satisfied crunch of the man’s nose breaking was enough as he crumpled to the ground clutching his nose and face.
I caught the girl up in my arms and climbed over the back of the seats, pushing her behind me in case Cedrick got up.
What I did not expect, however, was an angry voice saying, “You’re under arrest for assaulting a police officer.”
Nor did I expect a pair of handcuffs to be slapped onto my wrists and tightened down so tight that my wrists ached.
Totally worth it, though.
Sixteen
Sorry I forgot to text you back. I also forgot to eat today if that helps.
—Text from Calli to Jasper
JASPER
