“License and registration.”
I reached into the glove box slow with one hand and got the registration, I handed it over with my license. He took it and walked back to his car without explaining what the stop was about. I sat there and waited while Gutta was quiet. That shit was worse than Gutta talking because Gutta going quiet meant he was working very hard to keep his cool inside.
“Say nothing. Everything clean, we gone be outta here shortly. They just fuckin with folks cause they know a fight just went down.” I told him.
“I ain’t said nothing.”
“Keep it that way. I know you, nigga.”
The officer came back and handed me my information and then looked at me straight.
“Step out of the vehicle please.”
“Can I ask what this is about?”
“Step out of the vehicle.” he said, using his authority to be an asshole. I hated police ass niggas like his ass.
I got out slow with my hands visible, Gutta got out on his side and immediately started.
“Why is he stepping out? What’s the reason for the stop? Y’all can’t just—”
“Sir I need you to calm down. If you don’t want to join your partner.”
“I am calm. I’m asking a legal question. What is the reason—”
“Gutta.” I said his name flat and he stopped but his whole body was tight. The vein in his neck was visible and I knew he was about two exchanges away from making this situation way worse.
The officer on my side called for backup on his radio and I stood there by my car. I kept my face neutral and my hands where they could see them and waited.
Two more units pulled up within three minutes.
And then the first officer came back and stood in front of me.
“Xavier Hendrix Jr.?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m placing you under arrest on an outstanding warrant for Aggravated Assault causing Bodily Injury.” He moved behind me and I felt the cuffs go on my wrists. He started reading me my rights and I listened to every word and didn’t fight it. I didn’t say anything because Legal had told me years ago that the moment those cuffs went on the only words that should come out of my mouth were that I want my attorney.
Gutta lost it.
“For WHAT? He ain’t do shit! Y’all always on some harassment shit, always got to use yall power to try to railroad a —”
“Sir if you don’t calm down you will also be placed under arrest.”
“THEN ARREST ME! This is BULLSHIT—”
“GUTTA. Mane chill! I’m straight! I’ll be outta soon. It ain’t worth what they tryna do. They want you to flash out. We know better.” I raised my voice just enough to cut through and he looked at me over the roof of my car with his chest heaving and his eyes hot. “Listen to me. This is a mistake and I’m going to get it handled. I need you to calm down right now. I need you to call Legal and I need you to go home. You hear me?”
He looked at me for a long moment. Everything he wanted to say sitting right there on his face.
“Call Legal,” I said again. Quiet. “I’m good.”
They walked me to the patrol car and I got in and I looked up one more time through the window as they were closing the door.
Brielle was standing on the sidewalk.
I don’t know where she came from or how long she had been there. She was just there, standing still while everybody else around her was moving, looking directly at me in the back of that police car. I watched her face be filled with disappointment. It was something that she didn’t try to hide. Not shock, not surprise, something heavier than both of those. Something that looked like confirmation of what she had been afraid to believe.
