Page 48 of The Chemist

“Dad!” his stepbrother shouted before jerking their bedroom door open and jumping back, startled.

Standing in their doorway was a huge, uniformed police officer.

Diesel jumped out of bed, suddenly interested in what was going on.

“Is it just you two in here?” the man asked. He looked well over six foot three and appeared like a giant standing in their doorway.

Diesel nodded his head. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but he had seen enough television shows to know that when police officers came bursting into your home late at night, it was never a good thing.

“You two, stand over there against the wall and don’t move.”

Diesel nodded, not sure what to do. He stepped next to his brother—stepbrother—and waited as the officer placed handcuffs on both of them.

Once on, he turned to face the officer.What was going on?The cold metal of the cuffs felt foreign on his skin.

“Don’t move while I check your room,” the officer ordered.

A moment later, his mother came flying into their bedroom and wrapped her arms protectively around his stepbrother. He wasn’t surprised. Why would his mother give a shit about protecting him? He was just an accessory, after all.

“Ma’am, you’re not supposed to be in here!” the large man growled, closing the small dresser drawer he had just finished searching through.

“They’re my sons, and I’ll watch over them as I please.”

It was strange hearing those words fall out of his mother’s mouth. He could almost hear the fake studio audience laughing.

The officer reached into the closet, and a few minutes later, he pulled out a red-and-black knapsack. He pulled back the zipper and reached inside.

“Care to tell me where this came from?” The officer stood, holding a handful of gold necklaces dangling from his fingers.

Diesel’s mouth dropped open. Where the heck did all that jewelry come from? He glanced over at Jordan, who was staring at his feet, looking guilty as fuck.

That little shit!

“Officer Platell! I found the goods here in the bedroom.” The officer stood waiting for his partner to join him. “So which one of you broke into Saxman’s Jewelry and stole all this shit?” The officer was still grasping the chains when his partner entered the room, holding his handcuffed stepfather by the wrists.

Both his mother and father looked at Diesel and his younger brother, shocked by what they were seeing.

“Well? Which one of you was it? If you don’t confess, I’m arresting you both,” the giant officer said, glaring at Diesel.

“It wasn’t—” Diesel began before being cut off by his stepfather.

“It was the older one. The damn shit’s been stealing shit left, right, and center. I tried beatin’ his ass, but the stubborn shit keeps doing it.”

Diesel’s head snapped toward his stepfather. What the fuck?! He’d never stolen a thing in his life!

“No, I didn—” His voice was cut off again, but this time by his mother.

“Yes, officers, it was my son, Diesel. The boy has a problem. I never thought it would escalate to this, but clearly, he’s out of control.”

“What?! Mom. Why are you—" Now it was his turn to be cut off by his little brother.

“It was him. He told me last night that he broke into the store and took the chains after the place closed up.”

“See? The boy is a menace!” his stepfather growled, sealing Diesel’s fate.

“I’ve heard enough,” the one officer said, grabbing Diesel by the arm and pulling him toward his bedroom door.

“But… Mom! Help me! You know I didn’t do it!” Diesel cried out.

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