RISEN
I have no reason to be here, or that’s what I kept telling myself as I drove to the courthouse.
The chief put me on suspension pending a hearing. After I gave Trev a heads-up that he was going to be partnered with fucking Riggs or some other dickwad for the foreseeable future, I tidied up my locker and left. I had no intentions of going anywhere near China Crown, the courthouse, or this section of town, but low and behold, here I am.
Parked in the lot, staring at two of the most expensive Mercedes’ on the planet in the spaces directly across from mine, I keep asking myself, why am I here?
Fuck if I know, but I’m here.
It’s just after ten, and a little while ago, I saw one of her friends. The straight-laced, no-shit one came out to check the cars. Having taken a call, she then produced a massive hissy fit in the middle of the lot. Stomping around, tossing her hair, she swung a newspaper around wildly. I can’t imagine why. Then, just as quickly as she started, she stopped. Straightening out her outfit, she walked casually back inside, as if nothing were amiss.
Fucking nut.
Shit, look who’s talking, Risen? You’re sitting in a sweltering hot car, watching her lose her shit and contemplating going inside to the arraignment. The arraignment I devised by arresting her friend.
Nope, nothing fucked-up about that at all.
After ten minutes of thinking it through, I made the decision that dying in my car from heat exhaustion was not a plausible cause of death. So I locked up and started inside.
Being in uniform, I’d normally receive stares from the truly evil lowlifes that I’d drop off here, smiles from the hookers, and the odd ‘hey I remember you’ from the drunk and disorderly candidates. Today, though, in jeans, a black tee, and my favorite special edition black LA Lakers cap, I’m inconspicuous. Today, I’m just another asshole wandering the halls.
Walking by the schedule board, I find what venue China is expected in. Seeing I’m at hall three, it’ll be a bit of a walk to nine. It’s funny, really. Here I am, walking into the courthouse after another fiasco to check on the girl who broke down in my arms after a deadly dessert incident. An incident of which we both ended up on the front page of the most influential paper in the city. And like a moron, I’m here checking to make sure she’s all right.
Realizing I’ve almost wandered past hall eight, I take a minute to decide if I should do a U-turn or continue on. I’m sure they can add charges for stalking so we can share a holding cell. Not that I think that what I’m doing is stalking, but I sure as shit feel like a fucking stalker as I walk aimlessly toward her. She’s a magnet, and I’m the metal filings flying across the floor. I’m speeding toward her without any way to stop myself.
Why am I drawn to her? Why is it that I’m screwing up my life over China Crown?
“What the hell am I doing?” I mutter. Shaking my head, I turn to leave, when a wailing scream rings out. The cop in me turns and listens for the location, watching the dynamics of the surroundings. Was there gunshot? Was it just a laugh, or someone joyous?
Moving down the hall as quickly as I can, I turn the corner and find one of the ladies from last night. The expression of panic lights the tiny little spitfire’s face as she jogs back into the bathroom with the other friends in tow. Approaching them, the one that just broke down in the parking lot, rushes past. Peeking in, I see China sprawled out on the dirty floor. Once again, China’s prone. I find myself caring why.
“What the hell happened?”
“Why does it matter, Officer.” The Amazonian quips off sardonically.
Taking in the state of China, I note once more that she’s a mess. Her sobs are broken and sporadic, and her her hair sticks to her wet face. Her pristine pink tank is wrinkled, tangling around her body. The black pants are dingy, and her heels are scuffed.
When I don’t answer, but push closer to her, the tiny friend pushes to stand in-between China and I. Moving in closer, I push past, dropping to my knees.
Running a knuckle across her cheek, I speak quietly. “We having another bad day, princess?” I ask, not expecting an answer.
“We don’t need your help, Officer. Isn’t it bad enough we’re here because of you?” the dark goddess chirps.
True. But I did my job, and I’ve had about enough of everyone telling me what to do or not to do.
“Look, I’m not the cause of this. And even though I may have been the final straw, there’s a whole lot more going on. China’s collapsed twice in as many days, and I’m sure it’s not new.” I look over to her friend, the spitfire, seeing that no, this is not new. “How often has this happened?”
“Don’t answer, Harlow. He doesn’t deserve shit.”
That’s it.
“So that’s the way you wanna play this out, Amazon? Fine.” I rise off the floor, standing toe to toe with her. “You want to carry her out of here and explain to the judge why she had to leave?” Turning, I address the prim one that freaked out earlier in the lot. “Or would you rather the police officer help you out, Miss fucking hissy fit in the parking lot?” With her eyes bugging out, then narrowing, she contemplates on how I know about her meltdown.
“Look, Officer,” the spitfire pipes up. “I’m not adverse to you assisting in any way, as long as it helps Doll. But don’t fucking cross me. I have lawyers that could put your ass in jail with all the pretty rapists.”
At that, I smile and snicker. Yeah, I definitely like her best.
“Got it,” I say. I kneel back down on the floor. “What happened to cause this?” I ask. I’m not sure of what use I am, but I’ll do what I can.
“She’s being arraigned. Isn’t that enough to freak her out, Officer?”
“Fine. Pick her up yourself then. And by the way, I’m Risen, not officer.”
“I’m Harlow,” Spitfire states. She’s obviously the soft one of the bunch, but I have a feeling that she’s also the one that’s tough as nails when it comes to defending her friends. “The tall drink of water is Hallette, and the matriarch in the Lucille Ball outfit is Cathryne.”
“We came in here after...” Cathryne starts. “After she saw this.” Handing me the paper that I’ve already been blasted for, I nod, knowing why she’s distraught.
“I wouldn’t have taken her for a marshmallow because of a fluff piece on the front page. Please tell me there’s something more?”
“The front page bullshit wasn’t what set her off, it was this!” Cathryne flips the pages to the sports section. Looking at the paper she’s holding up, I skim the content. No wonder she’s a mess, I would be too. In no way is China the instrument of death for the company that her parents started. If I thought last night was a fall apart moment for China, then seeing this today would make it even worse.
Still holding her friend, Harlow strokes the long locks out of China’s face as she curls further and further into her friend’s chest, sobbing tears so hard, her body shudders from the lack of oxygen. She’s in hysterics. At this rate, she’ll pass out.
“Let me get her off the floor at least,” I say, asking permission, but not. “She can’t stay on the floor, ladies. It’s not only disgusting, it’s cold.” Lifting Doll off the floor, I take in her weightlessness. Just like last night, my body reacts to her. It’s the same reaction every time she’s near. Her smell is honeysuckle and vanilla, and her hair is like strawberries and cream. I need to get my shit together. Last thing I need is a hard-on in full view of her friends in a dingy, bug infested, court bathroom.
Rising up with her tucked in close, she curls into my shoulder. It’s heartbreaking. The tears flow freely across my chest where her bare skin touches mine, and it’s a torture of the best kind. How did I get messed up in this?
“Ladies, unless you want this on the news again, I suggest we find a different way to handle her exit.” There’ll be some punk-ass with a camera phone, just waiting to clip off another picture of China falling to pieces.
“What’s your suggestion then, big boy?” Hallette asks, much nicer this time, even though I know she’s still on the defensive regarding her precious friend. Trying to think of a way out of this, I eyeball their outfits. There’s not a great deal of material to work with, except with Cathryne. “What’s under that jacket?”
“Really? That’s your first question? Let’s help China, but hey, strip.” Indignantly shocked, and slightly perturbed, Cathryne glares at me.
“Look, if we go out there with her in my arms, again, then every single teen, hussy, and motherfucker will have a camera phone out. We need not only a diversion, but a cover for China. I’m thinking we could use your jacket for cover.”
“Oh, okay. I can, but I’m only wearing a bra.”
“I’ll do it,” the Amazon quips.
Women are ridiculous.
“You’re only wearing a dress. What would you remove, pre-tell?” I snap. “Look, you’re not taking off your jacket if you have nothing underneath, and neither of you have something available for us to remove. Can you help hold China up for a minute while I take off my shirt. At least we’ll get both the diversion and the cover.”
“How is you taking off your shirt a diversion?” Cathryne asks. Man, they’re in for a big shock.
“Can you three hold her up or what?”
“Totally. Now get to work, handsome.”
They all grab her and hold her up as I remove my shirt. Once she’s situated and secured in my arms again, I realize this was a bad fucking move. Now the only thing between me and her is that tiny, frail whiff of material. The heat of her is dangerously intoxicating.
Spinning to face the door, I motion for them to move ahead. Just as I expected, they don’t. Turning back, not one of them have moved an iota as each are gobsmacked, staring open jawed in awe. Definitely not something unusual. In fact, I’m so used to it being a distraction that I don’t venture out without a shirt on. The guys at the station are used to it, but in public, I cover myself all the time.
“Which way to hall nine?” I ask, trying to pull them from their trances. Hallette shakes her head, Cathryne clears her throat, and Harlow grins from ear to ear before reaching out to touch me. Again, not unusual.
“Harlow!” Cathryne yells before smacking her hand away. Laughing it off, I grin at the admonishment she receives. It’s funny as hell that this group of ladies, who’ve probably seen more skin than most, are in shock about me half naked.
“What? It’s pretty,” she giggles, holding her hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine. Okay. So now what, Officer Risen? What’s the plan?”
“Just Risen will do fine, Harlow.”
“Fine. Risen, what’s the plan?”
“Well, she’s still expected in her arraignment with the judge. If she doesn’t appear, it’ll be even worse than what she’s dealt with so far. Does she have a lawyer?”
“We’re rich, so yeah, she has a lawyer.”
“Can you get in touch with them? Let them know what’s happening, and see if you can get us in with the judge ahead of time. Maybe even in closed quarters. That would be good.”
Hallette smacks her hand on her forehead. “Fuck. Why didn’t we think of that? Great heaping bags of dung we are.” Clicking away madly, she turns away, waiting for an answer.
“What can we do?” Harlow asks with her grin still joker wide. Tilting her head from side to side, she tries to look around her friend’s prone body to stare at my artwork.
Shaking my head at her apparent lack of shame, Cathryne glares at Harlow. Snapping her fingers, pulling Harlow’s full attention back to the task at hand, she yells, “Focus, harlot.”
While Hallette is talking on the phone, I tell Cathryne what I think our best course of action is. She listens intently, absorbing the gravity of it should it go wrong, and even helps me devise a route from the bathroom with the least amount of amateur paparazzi. Rejoining us, Hallette gives the rundown from the lawyer, and we make sure it works with what we’ve come up with.
We ready ourselves to exit the dank room. China has barely stirred from my chest. Looking down at her, I still only see the strong racer that bounces to the front of the pack, never losing and never giving in. This? This is a defeated, deflated, and despondent soul that has been crushed repeatedly in the past few months. She’s not had a moment’s peace. I’ll do whatever I can to help.
“Ready?” Cathryne asks me.
“Yeah, sure. Let’s go.”