“And if I have to call the mobile unit for a Breathalyzer, it will confirm that?”
“He hasn’t been drinking!” I protested. “He’s just driving me home. It’s me who screwed up—I’m the reason you’re all here—just let him go!”
“Emma,” my dad said. “Be quiet and let the officer do his job.”
“But Roo isn’t part of this!”
“Miss.” Gator turned the flashlight back to me. “Calm down and be quiet or you’ll have another problem. Understood?”
Roo glanced at me. I nodded and said, “Yes, sir.”
Gator looked back down at the license and registration in his hand. “Now, Mr. Price, you say you’re headed to work. Where is that?”
“Conroy Market, in North Lake. My boss is Celeste Blackwood. She’s there right now.”
“And where areyourparents?”
I saw Roo swallow. “My mom is at work at the Bly County hospital. And my dad is deceased.”
Gator nodded, then looked at the registration again. “Okay. Sit tight. I’ll be right back.”
With that, he turned, walking over to his cruiser and sliding behind the wheel. My dad came back up to the window, pointing a finger at Roo.
“You have a minor under the influence in your car,” he told him, his voice thick with anger. “I don’t care if you’re sober or not, I’ll still be pressing charges.”
“For what?” I demanded.
“Saylor—” Roo said.
“Her name is Emma!” my dad exploded. His face was inches from Roo now: I could see spit flying from his mouth when he spoke. “And she doesn’t go to parties and drink, or at least she didn’t until she came here and started hanging out with all of you.”
“Dad, stop it!”
“Look, I know what goes on with lake kids,” he continued. “I married a lake kid, for Christ’s sake. And I watched her destroy herself. I won’t do it again.”
Roo, my dad’s finger inches from his nose, didn’t say a word. He just sat there, taking this, and that was the worst thing of all.
“Mr. Price checks out,” Gator announced to my dad, coming back from his car and sticking Roo’s documents through the window. “Ms. Blackwood says she’s expecting him at midnight and that he’s a good kid. Said I should let him go.”
“He gave my daughter beer!”
“No, he didn’t!” I said. “God, are you even listening to me?”
“I don’t have evidence of that,” Gator explained to my dad. “Not much I can do.”
“Go bust the party! Then you’ll have your proof!”
“Well,” Gator said, considering this, “the problem is it’s in North Lake. And I only police Lake North. So—”
“Do not tell me this is out of your jurisdiction,” my dad warned him. “This entire place is six miles long.”
“Sir, I’ll ask you to lower your voice,” Gator replied.
“All he did was drive me home,” I said. “Look, I understand you’re pissed and you want to punish me—”
“You’re damn right,” my dad replied, but he was glaring at Roo as he said this.
“But leave Roo out of it,” I finished. “Dad.Please.”
