Page 9 of Degradation
I take the pen shakily and write ‘Marguerite Evans.’
Officer One snatches up the paper and reads it. ‘That’s not what those boys said your name is.’ He glances at his partner. ‘Find her in the system.’
He looms over me and re-cuffs my hands behind me immediately, this time even more tightly.
I feel myself sinking into the background of my own mind, my pain and discomfort getting to be too much. My shoulders slump in defeat. I’m exhausted and it’s beginning to show.
The second one sits at the computer and starts tapping on the keys. He’s very slow. Meanwhile, my hands begin to go numb and the rest of me hurts like I’ve been put through a meat grinder. My head is pounding, too, so I lean forward and rest it on the desk. I know I’m showing weakness, but I’m past caring now.
I vaguely register the two officers talking quickly in hushed, urgent voices a minute later.
They haven’t called the township cops yet, I don’t think.
‘Marguerite.’
My name is said slowly. I open my eyes and straighten to see which one is speaking to me. I find Officer Two standing over me to the right of my chair.
‘We. Have. Called. Someone. To. Take. You. Home.’
I blink, trying to make my brain work. Someone’s coming? Who?
The immediately pounding in my chest takes me by surprise.
‘Do. You. Understand?’
Why is he speaking to me like I don’t know English?
‘Yes,’ I manage to croak and hope I’ll be able to speak properly now. ‘I didn’t do anything.’
‘What was that?’
‘What did she say?’ Officer One asks from his desk.
‘What did you say?’ Officer Two asks.
‘Talkslowto her. Remember what her file says.’ Officer One taps the side of his head. ‘She’s basically like a little kid, or something.’
‘No, I’m not.’ I wrinkle my nose. ‘I said, I didn’t do anything wrong. And I’m not drunk. Let me go.’
Officer Two huffs. ‘No can do. It says right here in your file. If you’re found, your guardian needs to be called.’
I look at the ground in anger.Like a stray.
So, they’ve called John. The Heath won’t be far behind, then.
It’s over. I close my eyes.
Failure.
Neither of them says anything else to me after that and they don’t give me anymore of their attention, busying themselves at their desks while I wait for the inevitable.
I hear a car door slam about five minutes later, and my eyes cut to the window to see a figure I can’t quite make out coming toward the office.
Is it a Blank? Is it John?
But it’s Shade who steps through the door.
I look away from him immediately, not prepared for the onslaught of feelings that threaten to make me cry or screamor both. Relief. Betrayal. Anger. Sadness. Disappointment. My own stupidity.
