“What the hell,” he whispers. “What are they doing on Avery? Derek 100 percent said Duclos.”
Check points are becoming a new norm in our side of town. The city’s attempt to keep the roads safe from drunk drivers and petty theft offenders, as our new mayor claims.
P starts explaining what’s going to happen. How we will be asked to step out of the vehicle, possibly empty our pockets, et cetera. I can barely make out the rest of his words as panic strikes through me. Deafening fear takes over, and my heart begins to hammer against my ribs as I watch the police officer guide our car into the inspection area.
“Lana? Did you hear me?”
“Huh?” I snap my wide eyes to Parker and watch his confused glare morph into the same fearful expression.
“Alana,” he says coldly, knowingly. “What happened at Derek’s?” His tone is flat. His eyes move quickly out the windshield to the officer headed our way then back again. “Alana!”
I mean to answer, but the fear has my throat locked tight. My eyes prick with emotion, and my lips quiver.
“Alana,” Parker breathes, leaning toward me. “What. Happened. At Derek’s?”
“I…” I can’t speak. I’m so scared. I don’t want to go to jail. “I…” The officer is at the car in front of us now. I’m running out of time. “He gave me some pills. For Dad. To help him.”
“Why?”
“I-I asked him for them.”
“YouaskedDerek to get you pills for Dad, are you insane?! What were you thinking?”
“He said he could help! That all I had to do was hold them for a little while, and when he sold what he needed to, I could give the rest to Dad.” My voice cracks. My hands shake uncontrollably.
“That’s called being a runner, Alana! He made you a part of his drug deal!” His jaw clenches, and he lets out an angered breath. When he speaks again, his voice is steady, calm but furious. “What kind of pills?”
“I-I don’t know. Stronger ones."
“Fuck, Alana! You can’t just take something when you don’t even know what it is!” He curses. He never does that around me. “How many?” I try to answer, but I’m still in shock, trapped in my fear. “How many, Alana!”
“A hundred,” I cry, racking my brain as I try to remember the name of what Derek gave me. “He said it was something with an F. He said it was…” The light goes off in my head. “Fentanyl.”
Parker’s eyes widen in terror, and he releases an anxious breath as he drags a hand down his face. “Holy fuck.”
“I was just supposed to hold them! I didn’t know! Derek promised me a bunch of money after he sold them. It was supposed to help us. I thought it would help us…” Helpless tears fall down my cheeks.
Parker white knuckles the steering wheel and sets his eyes into the distance. Tears continue to spill from my eyes as relentless worry sets in. Because I know I’ve messed up. I know from the tension in P’s expression and the worry in his eyes that I justroyallyscrewed us.
“P—”
“This is what’s going to happen, Alana.”
My heart pounds sharply in my chest.
“You’re going to give me the pills. I’m going to put them in my pocket. And when I get out to do the checkpoint, you’re not going to say a word. Ifanyone asks you why you’re upset, you tell them you failed a test at school, and I was upset with you.”
“What test?”
“Anytest, Alana!” I flinch at his unfamiliar harshness. “Listen to me. Do exactly as I say. When the officer goes to his car to check my paperwork, you reach down for the stuff in your bag without looking down and pass it to me under the dash. Do not lift your hands. Do not dip your head. Do you understand?”
I nod.
The officer approaches Parker’s window, bending down to meet him at eye level.
“License, registration, and insurance,” the officer says.
“Yes, sir,” Parker responds. “It’s over in the glove box. Is it okay if I reach to get it?”
