It didn’t even enter Vahin’s mind to resist or ask the man not to touch him. It was then he noticed another person waiting by a car parked several yards away. A police car. And this man was in full police uniform.
Vahin halted at the sight. He looked at the ginger, trying to remember what you were supposed to say when the police were speaking to you. Nothing was coming back. Part of him wanted to run. As fast as he could. “Who are you?”
Who are you?That’s what he came up with?
“Not really your business, but I’ll play along.” The ginger pointed to himself and the older white cop who was now making his way toward them. “I’m Officer Andrew Morris, and this is my partner for the evening, Officer Greg Holland.” He gave a sneer that wiped away his good looks. “And who are you?”
“Ah,” Vahin glanced at the older officer, then back to the ginger… Officer…. He’d already forgotten their names. What was he supposed to do? Was he required to give his name? Was he supposed to request a lawyer? He tried again. “I’m, ah… wait, why did you pull me out here again?”
A strange expression crossed the cop’s face, part anger, part… something else… enjoyment? “You served a minor alcohol this evening.” He tightened his grip on Vahin’s elbow. “And you are?”
He started to pull his arm away, then stopped. “My name’s Vahin.”
“I need to see some form of ID,Vahin, if you have any.”
Vahin nearly refused, then figured that would only make the situation worse. With his free arm, he pulled out his wallet, then looked at the officer. “Could you release my arm, so I can get it out easier?”
The officer hesitated, then let go of Vahin’s elbow and dropped his hand to the holster of the gun at his waist. “No funny business.”
Vahin thought he might puke. He pulled his driver’s license out and handed it over.
The cop held it up so it fell into the stream of light from the streetlamp. “Vahin… Arora, huh? If this is even a real ID. There’s some pretty convincing forgeries out there.”
The other officer chuckled.
The ginger cop looked from the driver’s license to Vahin. “Vahin Arora. Unusual name. Sounds… foreign. Sounds kinda like a Muslim, doesn’t it, Holland?”
“Yep.”
Vahin didn’t respond. He glanced around. No one on the patio; it had been too cool to open it up. There was no one anywhere.
“That name Muslim, Vahin?”
Vahin refocused on the cop… Morris. That was it. He straightened his shoulders. “Indian, Officer Morris. Vahin is a Hindu name, actually.” Why the hell had he said that?
“Don’t look like an Indian to me.” Officer Morris addressed his partner. “Does he to you, Holland?”
“Nope. And I don’t think this place is a reservation, so probably not an Indian.”
At that moment, Vahin realized no matter what he said, he was in trouble. The knowledge gave him a bit of his courage back. He stared the ginger right in the eyes. “Officer Morris? I thought you were partners with Officer Barton?”
“Ah, you know me.” Vahin’s words didn’t have the desired effect; it seemed the cop had no issue with being recognized. Instead, his smile grew. “Well, you’re right. I am partners with Marlon, for now. Unfortunately, he got a little cough and couldn’t come in today, so Officer Holland here did me a good turn and picked up a bit of overtime. But surely you already heard Barton was feeling… weak today.”
So the officer knew who he was as well. Whatever was happening wasn’t a coincidence. Anger rushed through him, erasing the fear that had been holding him back. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to pull, Officers, but I didn’t serve a minor this evening. Or ever. I’m good at my job, and I never bend the rules. Not for anyone.”
Morris’s smile only grew. “Well, myboy, I’m afraid that isn’t true. You fell for a sting and weren’t smart enough to see a clearly fake ID.” Again he addressed the other cop. “Where’s the kid, Greg? Let’s introduce Mr.Arorahere to someone smarter than himself.”
The other cop’s voice sounded hesitant for the first time. “He, ah, didn’t hang around.”
“What?” Morris glanced over his shoulder, then back at Vahin quickly. “Never mind.” He reached out and gripped Vahin’s elbow once more. It took all Vahin’s willpower not to jerk away. “I’m gonna need you to step into the car. We’re going to take a little trip down to the station.”
Vahin jerked his arm away. “No.”
“Excuse me?” Officer Morris took a step toward him, satisfaction and excitement leaking from his expression. “I’m not sure you have a choice in that, boy.”
The other officer walked closer, Vahin saw him begin to pull out his gun.
Vahin started to argue, tell him he’d not even been read his rights, when a voice spoke out of the darkness.
