Page 93 of In the Line of Ire

"Ididn't steal anything."

Jordlooked around, taking in everything. "You broke in."

"I can'tbreak into my own house!"

I shookmy head. "See what I mean?" I asked Jord.

"Cuffhim and Mirandize him," instructed Jord. "We'll take him down tothe station and book him."

"Oh,naw," said Larry as he was assisted to his feet and his hands wereforcibly placed behind his back. "There must be something I can doto avoid all of this. That man tried to shoot me!"

Jordlooked to Solomon. "I don't see any gun."

"He hasone all right!"

"Did youtry to shoot this man?" asked Jord.

Solomonraised his eyebrows. "Is he dead?" he asked.

"I don'tsee any problem here," replied Jord. He turned to Larry. "You'renot dead. You don't have any extra holes with blood leakingout."

"Whatcan I do to persuade you not to arrest me?" whinedLarry.

"Everything you should have done instead of this," Isaid.

"TellNatalie I'm sorry, okay? I never meant to upset her," said Larry asthe cops dragged him past me.

"Wait," I said, stopping them. "Maybe thereissomething you cando."

"Anything," he said.

"If Natalie agrees to move out, you have to help her do it," Isaid, my plan clicking into place. "You can pay her rental deposit,moving expenses, and for all the furniture and everything else youruined.Cash.Ifyou compensate her with that, maybe she won't presscharges."

Larry'sstubbly chin wobbled but finally, he huffed and said, "Okay. And Ireally am sorry. I never intended to scare her thatmuch."

"Much?"I repeated. "You can also pay the first three months rent on thenew place."

"What?"he squeaked.

I turnedto Jord. "How much jail time would he get if we filed a stalkingcharge against him and won?"

"Let'ssee," said Jord, counting slowly on his fingers.

"Stalking two underage girls," I added.

"Whoa!Wait a minute... I did not stalk those two girls! I'll payeverything you asked for. I promise. I'll get you the money. Justdon’t arrest me."

"No cando," said Jord. "You've already been arrested. We need to go downto the station, book you and take a statement. If you're lucky,you'll get bail tonight. If not, maybe tomorrowmorning."

"Who'sgoing to pick me up?" asked Larry.

"I am,"said Solomon. "And I'll drive you straight to the bank."

"Andyou'll guarantee that Natalie drops the charges?" asked Larry,looking skeptically at Solomon then at me.

"Whoa!One step at a time," said Jord. He nodded to the uniforms. "Let'sgo. And you two, have that case file on my desk ASAP."

"You gotit," I agreed. Solomon and I watched them leave before turning tolook at all the damage.

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