Page 15 of Virtue & Vengeance

“Hello, officer,” I said as he leaned down and peered into my car.

His eyes bounced around the backseat as if he were searching for something and then he looked at me.

“License and registration.”

“Of course.” My fingers shook as I searched through my purse for my license. “Here it is,” I said, holding it up for him to see.

“Good.” He took it from my fingers. “Registration?”

“Of course.” The words came out slowly as I tried to figure out what the hell I was going to do.

Leaning over, I opened the glove compartment and began to search like I was going to find something. After a few minutes, I knew I was going to have to give up the charade and come clean.

Looking at the police officer again, I gave him my best puppy dog eyes. “I can’t find my registration. I must’ve left it at my house.”

He stared me down, his eyes full of accusation. He knew I was lying. I was sure he had heard it all before.

“I’ll be right back,” he said.

He turned without another word and walked back to his car. I watched from the side view mirror as he got into his car and shut the door.

I waited, sweat beginning to form all over my body as I chewed on my fingernails. An eternity seemed to pass as I waited before he finally climbed out of his car and made his way back toward me.

“Are you aware this vehicle was reported stolen this afternoon?”

Of all the things I expected him to come back and say, the car coming back as stolen wasn’t one of them.

“That has to be a mistake, officer.”

“I assure you it’s no mistake. Does this car belong to you, ma’am?”

I hesitated but nodded slowly. “Yes, sir.”

He scanned my face, his expression giving nothing away.

“Can you please get out of the car?”

My stomach twisted, but I nodded and pushed open the door. Cars whizzed by us, making me jump.

“Officer, I assure you, there’s no way this car was reported stolen.”

I was sure of that.

Allen wasn’t one to deal with cops, no matter how angry he was.

“That may be true, but unfortunately, until we get this all straightened out, I’m going to have to take you in.”

I felt the blood draining from my face. Dizziness moved over me, and I felt as if I was tilting. “You’re arresting me?”

I’d never been arrested in all my life.

“I’m afraid so. But if you come willingly, I won’t have to handcuff you.”

I couldn’t believe this was happening.

I hadn’t so much as shoplifted a piece of candy in my life and now I was about to be put in the back of the cop car and taken in?

I could have cried.

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