Page 41 of Summer of the Boy

Chapter Ten

Rid drives us around on the back roads for a while longer, until the sun begins to dip below the horizon. He’s not ready for night driving yet, so after pulling over, we switch places and I drive us back to my parents’ house. We decided to ask my mom if he could sleep there because of his mother’s reaction to us.

Once we make the turn onto my street, I see the police cars parked in front of my house immediately. Rid sees my panic click in and squeezes my knee for reassurance. The driveway has been blocked off by police cars so I park across the street. When we run up to the house, I’m scared out of my mind, but knowing Ridley’s running right along with me helps a little.

As soon as I throw open the door and rush inside yelling, “Mom?” I’m immediately grabbed by the wrist by one of the police officers, swung around and pressed face first against the wall next to the door.

“Leif Fraser?” The officer asksashe’s cuffing me? What if I wasn’t Leif Fraser?

“Yes,” I answer him right away. “What’s going on?”

“You’re under arrest for kidnapping, and forced unnatural sexual acts upon a mentally incompetent person.”

“What? What are you talking about?” Once I’m cuffed, I notice the other officer allows my parents to leave the kitchen.

My mother walks over to me, “We’ll get a lawyer on this. I just can’t believe…”

“Who have you been forcing unnatural sexual acts on, Leif?” Rid asks.

“I don’t know, babe. This has to be a mistake.”

But it’s not a mistake. I know it’s not a mistake when a third police officer turns to Rid and asks, “Are you Ridley McAllister?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Well, you need to come with me son. Your mother is very worried.”

When Rid furrows his brow and asks, “My mother?” his voice hitches on mother. I know it’s because his heart is breaking a little bit more. I can’t believe she’d be this evil.

“Don’t worry son, you aren’t in any trouble. You did nothing wrong. But she’s waiting at home for you.” The cop pats the air in a ‘calm down’ motion like he thinks Rid’s scared.

Then he grabs ahold of Rid’s arm. He’s autistic. They don’t like being touched by people they don’t trust. Rid starts to freak.

“Settle down son. It’s okay,” the stupid cop coos.

“Let go of his arm,” I say. “He doesn’t know you. You can’t grab his arm. Rid. Calm down. Go with the officer.”

“My son is right. I work with autistics all the time. Let his arm go. But Ridley is hardly a mentally incompetent person.”

“I suggest you call that lawyer, ma’am. These are very serious charges.”

The first officer tugs me hard to get me walking. I’m not resisting at all so I don’t know why he’s acting as if I am.

The third cop leads Ridley outside to a different cruiser. Rid yells to me, “I’ll talk to my mom. We’ll get this taken care of.” Before the officer shoves Ridley in the backseat.

We leave in different directions.

***

I’ve never been in trouble with the law in my life. Never even been busted on an underage drinking charge. Now I can say I’ve had a mug shot taken and been finger printed. And I’m sitting in a jail cell waiting for whatever it is I’m supposed to wait for.

My parents have already been in with my dad’s colleague, for representation. The firm felt it better my dad not represent me because he’s too close to the situation. I guess I agree. Because right now, I need my dad to only wear the dad hat.

Yeah, I said it. I’m nineteen years old and need my dad.

After spendingthe nightin jail, that is, the whole rest of the freaking night, I’m bonded out. My dad’s firm is good. But I guess not that good because I’m being labeled as a predator by everyone. And I’m told under no circumstances am I to contact or accept contact from Ridley.

Being labeled a sex predator.

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