Never Safe Again

Manny stands frozen in the shadows of Elizabeth's hospital room. The door continues to open. The bright fluorescent hall light cascades across the room. Beads of sweat pop out across Manny's forehead. His heart pounds fiercely against his chest wall. Manny quickly scans the room, looking for a way to escape. He soon discovers his only retreat is the restroom. I'll have to run by them to get there. The barrier opens a little more. Manny studies his options again. It's the only choice I have.

***

Harry Long, a tall, stout Tulsa PD officer, is logging Antonio's arrest report into the database. Something he's done numerous times over his twenty-plus years but still doesn't like any more than when he first began.

Harry's fingers fly across the keys in hopes he'll be able to finish in time to see the Sooner game tonight. He bet half his paycheck on what he thought was a sure thing, but after hearing a few commentators' opinions, he wasn't feeling good about his investment.

Bill Madison, his partner, is at his desk, his mouth going ninety to nothing. Unlike Harry's neat, lanky stature, Bill is a short, rounded oaf whose uniform has more wrinkles than a hundred-year-old man.

"The arrest could've gone south on us, Harry. With the airport being so crowded and all. And that stupid rent-a-cop charging at him like he had an ax to grind didn't help the situation none." He takes a bite of his burger and adds, "We're just lucky the suspect's mother stepped in when she did." He remembers Antonio's face right before he went down, chuckles, and adds, "The poor bloke didn't know what hit him until it was too late." 

I was hoping the food would shut him up. Bill has been talking nonstop for over an hour, making concentrating on the task at hand difficult. Harry glances at his notes and then taps a few more keys.

Taking another bite, Bill says, "You could've prevented the whole mess if you'd taken your shot."

"In a crowded airport with civilians all around? I don't think so."

"I would've if I were in your shoes."

"Well, I decided not to because I didn't want to risk their lives, alright?" Anger surges through him. Harry smacks the keys harder than before.

Bill crams the last bite into his mouth. Ketchup dribbles on his clothes; he wipes the mess away. "There's no way you could've missed with that shot."

Harry slams his hands on the keyboard and then turns towards Bill. His forehead creases, and his nostrils flare. A dagger expression crosses his face. "It was my choice, my call, and I decided I didn't want to risk it, alright."

Bill throws his hands up as he leans back in his chair. "Whoa, what's gotten into you all of a sudden? Are you PMSing or something?"

"I want to get home in time for the game, but it's not going to happen because you won't shut your damn pie hole." He slams his hands on the desk. "I need a break." Pushing away from his desk, he springs to his feet.

"I'll type up the report for you."

Harry rolls his eyes. "You'll just screw it up the way you did before." They both got desked for that mistake, and Harry hates desk duty worse than filling reports. 

A wounded expression plagues Bill's face. "I'll do better this time, I promise. And if I do mess it up, I'll take the full blame." 

Harry glances at his watch. I'll make it home in time for the kick-off if I hurry. Besides, his screw-up will be on him and not me this time. "Alright, but take your time and do it right." He grabs his coat off the chair.

 Bill beams. "I will; you'll see."

"You better."

Bill replays his and the captain's last conversation in his mind as he watches his partner leave. "Cap ain't going to demote me to no traffic cop," he states, plopping down in his partner's chair.

***

Manny is halfway across the room when the door flies open. Manny slides into the bathroom and eases the door, too. His body begins to tremble. His heart pounds furiously in his chest. He stands motionless against the flimsy door. I may have to fight my way out, he thinks, preparing to punch and run.

Manny hears someone crossing the room. He then hears a young female say,

 "I'll be right there," Light footsteps cross the room. The door clicks, too.

Manny sighs with relief. I better get out of here while I still can. Darting across the room, he presses his ear against the other door and waits. Hearing the footsteps fade, he throws the barrier open and darts the opposite way.

***

Finished with the report, Bill decides to visit their prisoner and give him the news. "Hey, Gonzales, Berryville Police Department called and said they're on their way."

"Do you know what the charges are?" He had a good idea but wanted to know for sure.

"They're faxing the paperwork now. Yep, there it is. Don't go anywhere." Bill laughs. He's always enjoyed his jokes. Antonio gives him a dagger stare. The officer laughs again.

He returns a few minutes later with a stack of papers in hand. Only one pertains to his case, but Bill figures Antonio will intimidate easier if he thinks there's more. "You've been a busy man, Gonzales." Bill pretends to scan through them. "It looks like you'll be serving a lot of time upstate."

"What does it say?"

"They're charging you with extortion, money laundering, racketeering, conspiracy, fraud, and tampering with evidence." Bill turns towards the suspect. "That's just the first page." He flips to the next.

"You're full of shit," Antonio growls.

"Look for yourself." He holds up a piece of paper.

Antonio glances toward it but finds the print is too little to read. He moves closer but still can't make out what it says."

"You'll probably be behind bars for the rest of your life." He pretends to read the papers, Shakes his head, and adds, I'd try to work out a plea agreement if I were you. Maybe you'll have a couple of years of freedom before you die with good behavior."

"I'm not a snitch," he snarls.

"Well then, I'm sure a pretty boy like you will have lots of friends upstate if you know what I mean." Bill winks.

He slams his fist against the bars. "No one will ever touch that away."

"That's what everyone says. Then big Bubba comes along, shows you what's up, and the next thing you know, you're his."

He puffs out his chest. "Well, it ain't happening to me."

"You're probably better off if he does because Dominicans don't fair well in prison."

"I can handle my own," he growls.

"The others thought so, too, until the guards carried them out in body bags. The guards do their best, but you know how that goes."

"Yeah, well, they will be carried out in body bags, not me."

"That's what they say too. I hope you sleep tight because this is probably your last restful night for a very long time."

Antonio's upper lip curls. "You don't scare me."

"I'm not trying to scare you. I'm just telling you like it is."

"Fresh meat like you, you'll be lucky to last a day," another prisoner adds.

Antonio turns to find a burly, tattooed man beside him. His long jet-black hair is in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. His ashen face is wrinkled and scarred.

"I've seen it happen too many times," the inmate finishes, shaking his head.

"Bruno has spent most of his life behind bars. Ain't that right?"

"Don't know how to act anymore when I'm on the outside."

Antonio glances at the detective and then his cellmate.

"Sleep well." Bill chuckles, walking away. I bet he'll be singing like a little canary soon. Bill chuckles to himself.