The young officer blinked, looking confused. “I wasn’t gonna. Not unless he asks for it.”
“He’s not asking for it! Why is violence your first resort?” She felt empowered and righteous, standing up for Davey and representing them all. They had every right to be here.
“Sass,” Davey murmured. “Let it go. Nothing happened.”
The weed was taking over her thoughts, playing protest music in her brain and suggesting to her that Davey was only saying that to keep herquiet, so she refused to be silenced. Had he missed the importance of this showdown, preoccupied as he was by Christine? They were standing up against The Man! This was a big deal!
“Of course something happened!” She stood toe-to-toe with the bewildered policeman. “I saw you. You were going to hit him with that stick. If you think the fuzz can just beat up innocent citizens, you’re wrong!”
“Miss, please step back.”
Davey sighed behind her as Sassy moved even closer. “I’m allowed to be wherever I want to be. I live here. This is my city, and I—”
“Miss, if you don’t move back, I’ll have to take you in.”
“Sass. Come here,” Davey muttered, tugging on her sleeve.
She felt a twinge of concern, then she disregarded it… and did the wrong thing.
“Oh yeah?” She put both hands on the policeman’s chest and shoved. “Go ahead!”
The next thing she knew, her wrists were cuffed, and her elbow was gripped by a policeman. She looked to Davey for guidance, but he appeared completely lost. As did everyone around him.
She was led to a police car, and the officer opened the back door then waited for her to climb in and sit. The cuffs pinched and bruised. The moment the car door was closed, Sassy’s world became very quiet. Sick with shame, she watched out the window as Davey gestured toward her, negotiating with the police. He shot her apologetic glances while he did so, but she was painfully aware that none of this was his fault. She’d let herself get out of hand. She had to stop smoking pot. It always made her do stupid things. This time, she had really done it. She was petrified about going to jail. How was she supposed to tell her father about this? She was already keeping mum about the loss of her job.
Some of the others in the group were speaking with the police now, and her mortification grew.
Davey, it ended up, was powerless to save her. He pressed his face to the window and stared uselessly at her. The policeman returned to his car, andshe burrowed into the back seat, wishing she could disappear from sight as he drove away from the crowd. He looked young, she thought. His straight black hair, neatly trimmed above his collar, carried no grey, and the eyes reflected in the mirror were not yet lined by age. Her father would have approved: a young man with a responsible job.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Susan.”
“That was a dumb move, Susan,” he said flatly. “We weren’t even going to stop the protest. Just letting the leader know the parameters.”
Her shackled wrists ached. “I’m sorry I pushed you. You’re right. I was dumb. What happens now? I’ve never been arrested before.”
“You get one phone call. Call your lawyer, and he’ll tell you what to do. Maybe next time, think first, okay? You could still be out there handing out flowers if you’d kept your mouth shut.”
Inside the station, she was led to a telephone at the back of the police station, and the officer gave her a dime to make her call. Feeling painfully small and slightly nauseous with nerves, Sassy clutched the phone to her ear and dialed her father’s number.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Dad,” she said, feeling her resolve give way. So much for being strong and independent. She gasped in a breath. “They told me I am entitled to one phone call.”
“Who told you…” There was a pause. “Where are you, Susan?”
“I’m, um—”
“Please don’t say you were arrested.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she whispered.
“What happened?”
“There was, uh, we were… I was at a protest.”
A long, exasperated sigh travelled through the receiver.
