“Okay,” I agree, having nothing to hide.I put my bag on the desk and let her go through it.
“You didn’t pack much,” Niks says when she’s done, and her demeanor softens more.
“Only what I could haul around myself.”
“You ran away as soon as you were legally able to?”she asks, and I nod.“Is there something you need to tell me about your stepmother or someone else that lives in that house?”
Officer Niks is at best a handful of years older than me, so she can’t have been a cop for long, but she’s good at reading situations.
“I would rather not talk about it and cause problems.I just want them to leave me alone.”
“Them?”
“What I will say is that my stepmother has got a wicked temper, and it’s worse when she drinks.On top of that is her stepson."I shake my head, not wanting to go there.
I still have a bruise, but I know if I say anything, nothing will come of it.It would be his word against mine, and it would only drag all this out even longer.My stepmother can be vindictive, and I just want to be done with her.
“I can’t remove you from missing persons without having you questioned about the jewelry,” Officer Niks says, and my heart sinks.“But that said, you’re not under arrest, and I can’t force you to stay while we wait for a detective to come talk to you.”
“Thank you,” I tell her as a whoosh of air leaves me in relief.
“I wish I could do more.Are you at least staying somewhere safe?”Like Niks says, there isn’t much she can do, and I’m not going to burden her with thoughts of me not being safe.
“Yeah,” I say and try to sound sincere.In reality, I was able to afford two nights at a cheap hotel before I found a shelter.They fill up quickly with how cold it is outside.
Luckily I found someone’s lost key fob to a fancy gym.The gym is mainly for boxing, but they have showers and a nice locker room for the women.It’s typically pretty empty, and I can hang out in there and not be bothered.When I pull my hood up over my head, I blend in and can come and go.I accidentally bumped into someone the other day, and they called me “boy.”It’s a male-dominated space, so the hood and my small stature must be working.
“Take this,” Officer Niks says and pulls out a card before she hesitates.“You don’t even have a phone, do you?”I shake my head.There was no way I could take the cell phone I used because it wasn’t mine.“You didn’t even take your phone, and they’re saying you stole jewelry?”Niks rolls her eyes, irritated.“Call me in a couple of days, will you?I’m going to poke around a little.”
“Please don’t.”It’s kind of her, but I know it will only make things worse.
“I know it feels like running might be easier, but these things always catch up to us.It’s best to get it sorted out and clear your name.”She stares at me for a long moment while I chew on my bottom lip.“Just call me, okay?”
“Okay,” I agree, taking the card from her hand.
“Be careful out there.”
I nod before I slip out of the station.As careful as I try to be, sometimes that’s still not enough.
CHAPTERTWO
MAVERICK
“Hey boss, you free?”Lonnie, one of the younger guys, asks as he knocks on my door.
“I’ve got five if you can make it quick,” I say, looking up from my computer.“But shouldn’t you be warming up?”
“Yeah, it’s about that.”Lonnie comes in my office and ducks his head as he fiddles with the strap on his gym bag.He’s looking everywhere but at me, and I suspected this was coming.“I can’t train with Coach Kincade anymore.”
“How long have you been coming here, Lonnie?”I get up from my desk and walk around before taking a seat on the edge of it.It’s not until I cross my arms over my chest that Lonnie finally looks up.
“Almost five years,” Lonnie says, and I nod.
“Four years, ten months, and fifteen days,” I say, and he seems surprised I know the exact count.“Ever since I caught you trying to steal my wallet and gave you a job instead.”
“Yeah, but I paid my dues.”Lonnie shrugs.“I’m tired of being treated like his bitch.”
“Really?”I narrow my eyes, but Lonnie doesn’t flinch.“Because from what your coach has told me, you’ve been slacking off on your training, showing up late, and he’s kicking your ass for it.”
