Page 72 of Shake the Spirit

“Well, this is awkward,” says Bearded Mooney Deputy. “We’re here to take in Ike.”

“In where?” Jared asks while leisurely getting to his feet.

“Into the station for questions, technically. But there’s talk of an arrest warrant.”

“For what?” I mutter. “Wait, is this about those Trinity weirdos?”

“They claim you took their daughter,” says Scrawny Mooney Deputy. “And that she’s underaged.”

“No.”

“Well, you can prove that at the station,” says Grumpy Old Man Mooney Deputy. “Might want to get a lawyer and call your dad.”

I cross my arms. “If I’m not being arrested, why should I go with you?”

Grumpy Old Man Mooney Deputy explains, “You’re coming willingly, so we won’t be forced to force you to come.”

“Wait, are you going to hassle Oana?”

Scrawny Mooney Deputy nods. “We will want to talk to her, yes.”

“How do I make sure that you don’t annoy her?”

“We’ll want to take her to the hospital to be checked.”

“What the fuck?” I snarl, stepping forward.

Jared rests his hand on my shoulder and grunts to silence my rage.

Calming myself a little, I ask, “Why would you need to do that?”

“Her family claims she’s fourteen. So even if she went willingly, she might be too young to have a say in the matter.”

Jared crosses his arms and shakes his head. “Whoa, now, that Oana is fresh-faced, but she’s no little girl.”

Bearded Mooney Deputy asks, “Why would her parents lie?”

“To force her back into their cult,” I grumble, annoyed by their stupidity. “You’re helping the bad guys, asshole.”

“How about we do this?” suggests Scrawny Mooney Deputy. “You come down and answer a few questions, so the sheriff can look like he isn’t playing favorites. Meanwhile, our lady deputy can talk to Oana and see about identification to prove her age.”

“Did her family show any?”

Grumpy Old Man Mooney Deputy gives away the answer when he just says, “We’ll figure that all out at the station.”

I turn to Jared, unsure if I should fight these guys or go quietly. His dark eyes tell me how I need to do what I do best—shut up and let the drama whores sweep in to noise-up the joint.

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