Page 27 of Reckless Chances
Chapter 10 – Charlie
The key was in thedoor to the tavern and Charlie’s mind was already racing to the moment when he’d see Emma again. He hoped that he could catch a glimpse of her painting without her knowing. He knew that he had to get working on his project, but tonight, he’d pick up a paintbrush and help Emma.
His phone buzzed, and his heart skipped a beat. They were still so new and every time she called or texted, he got a little hit of dopamine. He narrowed his lips when he saw Jason’s name on the screen instead of Emma’s.
‘Hello?’
There was only silence. Charlie stopped pedaling and put his feet on the ground to hold the phone. “Jason,” he shouted.
“Charlie,” Jason’s voice slurred on the other end. “You’ve gotta come and get me.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
He was met with more silence. “Jason. Where are you?”
“The police station.”
“What?” Charlie shook his head. His brother had been in town for less than six hours and had already managed to get arrested. “What did you do?”
“I’ll tell you when you get here.”
“Jason, are you okay?”
“Just get here, little bro.”
“I’m on my way. Wait there.”
“I don’t think I’m going anywhere,” Jason chuckled.
“You know what I mean,” Charlie barked into the phone. He ended the call and dropped the phone into his backpack. He could see the glow of the light from the flower shop on the sidewalk ahead of him. Emma was so close, but his brother was in trouble. He pursed his lips and turned the bike away from downtown and pedaled as fast as he could to the police station.
“Charlie,” Officer Augusta nodded as he stepped into the fluorescent light of the small-town precinct.
“Hi, Barry. I’m here to pick up my brother.”
“Of course.” Barry Augusta was a little older than Charlie, and the two of them had gone climbing together a few times. There was mutual respect between the two of them. “We could’ve arrested him, but when we found out he was your brother we just gave him a warning.”
“What did he do?” Charlie’s brother did stupid things when he was drunk, but Charlie couldn’t imagine him doing anything malicious. It had to have been something accidental, like falling into a window or passing out on someone’s lawn.
Officer Augusta came from behind the desk and motioned for Charlie to follow him to the drunk tank. Jason was sitting on a bench and in the cell beside him Pamela was sleeping on the floor, her mouth opened, snoring lightly.
“I’ll let him tell you the details,” Officer Augusta whispered as he opened the cell. “Jones, you’re free to go.”
Jason looked up. His hair was sticking out in three different directions and he looked relatively unscathed, just a little more rumpled than the last time Charlie had seen him.
“Here are the keys to his car.” Officer Augusta plucked the keys from a clipboard and handed them to Charlie. “And Charlie, you need to be careful about overserving...” his voice trailed off.
“He said he was taking a cab,” Charlie explained but knew he was in the wrong. The officer had no idea how hard it was to cut off someone in a small town where drinking was one of the top three hobbies after skiing and biking.
“Even so,” Officer Augusta said. “If he got behind the wheel after being overserved, you would be in serious trouble, Charlie.”
“I know, Barry.” Charlie took the keys. “I didn’t think he was this bad.”
Jason walked on a slight angle, his upper body lurching ahead of his lower body as if two separate brains were operating his limbs.
“Just get him home safely.”
“Will do,” Charlie said. “And thank you.” If it had been one of the older officers, this night could’ve ended a lot differently.
