In The Back Of A Cop Car

Vic:

I let a frustrated groan tumble out my mouth. Not only have I been reading files all day but I’ve been writing reports too. So now my head hurt as if someone was laying to it with a hammer and my hands felt like they were going to fall off, literally. I dropped the pen I was currently holding from my hand and let my head fall to my desk, I am done with life.

“Hey Vic!”

“Go away Kellin.”

He shook my arm “Seriously Vic, I got something I think you should see.”

“What?!” I groaned. I sat up off the desk and slumped into my chair. He placed a paper on my desk. I furrowed my eyebrows. “What’s this?”

“It’s a report that was filled about an hour ago, a robbery of CVS on Harrington.” Kellin sat on the desk letting his feet swing below him. “You remember that Ronald kid?”

I scoffed picking up the report. “Yeah, the one that was suppose to meet with me today at one.” I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I remember him….what does he got to do with this?”

“He was picked up at the place.” He stated flatly. “Larceny.”

“That stupid motherfucker!” I grumbled. “He stood me up to rob a damn drug store.” I flung the report down “You know what…..I don’t even care.”

“Vic you know you care.” He gave me a knowing look. “If you didn’t care then you wouldn’t be a juvenile probation officer.”

“Nope!” I plucked at my finger nails in a rather nonchalant manner. “ I don’t give a flying fuck.”

“You can’t be serious?”

“I am serious!” I shook my head to show that I was in fact “Dead fucking serious! If he would have been here, where he was supposed to be, then he wouldn’t have gotten picked up.” I shrugged my shoulders “As far as I’m concerned he did this to himself.”

“Well I know that he did this to himself. That’s pretty damn obvious don’t you think?” He rolled his eyes at me and my stupidity. “But you should understand it from his point of view.”

“What?”

Kellin shrugged “Just see why he did what he did. Understand why he stole from the store.”

“So, what you’re showing sympathy for a criminal.”

“He’s not a criminal.” Kellin said sternly “He’s just a kid, you as a juvenile probation officer should know this.”

“He stole something didn’t he?” I stated matter of factly “That makes you a criminal regardless of what age he is……am I right?” Kellin looked down at his hands which were clasped together in his lap. I sighed in disappointment. I kicked my feet and begun to spin around in my swivel chair. “I can’t believe you’re showing him sympathy.”

Kellin shook his head “It’s not that he stole……it’s what he stole that makes me sympathetic.” I planted my feet on the ground stopping the chair from spinning anymore and gave Kellin a skeptical look. I had no idea what he was talking about. Kellin picked up the report and flipped the pages. “Ronald Joseph Radke was found with two bags of diapers, three bottles of baby formulas, ten thirty-two ounce cans of vegetables, a loaf of bread….” Kellin looked from the report to my eyes. His eyes held so much emotion but then again when do they not. “Vic……what sixteen year old kid do you know that would steal this kind of stuff?”

He had a definite point. I’ve worked with hundreds of teenagers in my career and a sixteen year old just doesn’t steal this kind of stuff. Teens steal video games, clothes and shoes but baby supplies and food. That’s the kind of stuff that an adult who is trying to feed themselves and possibly their family would steal. Only someone who has a baby would steal diapers and baby formula. Not some teenage boy who’s a wanna be gangster.

“Something’s not adding up.” I quickly grabbed Ronald’s folder and opened it. I skimmed through the papers trying to see if I could find anything that could give me information on his life. “Father’s name is Richard Radke…..deceased. Mother’s name is Rachel Radke. He has a sister and a brother that are twins…..Lilly and Ryan. Five year old sister named Taylor” I fumbled through his papers some more “Nothing about a baby being in the family on the records or nothing.”

“So why the baby diapers and formula?” Kellin questioned “I don’t no.” I ran my hand through my hair. “Something’s obviously going on with the kid.” I nibbled on my lip trying to think of what to do. “Kells can you get Ronald into an interview room so…..”

“Already did that.” I looked up to be met with his smirk “He’s in room one.”

“Thanks Kelly Bear.” I give my blue eyed friend a sideways glance “Can I ask you a question?” He nodded his head signaling for me to continue. “How did you know that I would want to talk to him?”

Kellin laughed “I’ve worked with you for years, since I was a rookie.” He snatched the apple out my hand that I was just about to bite into and sunk his teeth into the juicy goodness himself. “I know you like an open book Vic. I know everything about you.”

I reached into my desk drawer and grabbed another apple. I waved it in the air and he just laughed. “And obviously I know you too Kells.”

I stand up out my chair, threw Kellin a wink and make my way to the interview room. It wasn’t a long way from my office, but with the amount of traffic in the precinct today it took a long time to get there. When I finally look get to the room I look through the window and was blown away by what I saw inside. Ronald is beautiful. His jet black hair formed perfectly around his face. Unbelievable designs littered his body so beautiful that they took my breath away. His brown eyes were looking directly at me and even though I know that this was a one-way window, I couldn’t help but feel that he could see me.

I swiped my card on the door transmitter, lighting it a blue color before swinging it open. I closed it, pushing against it until a click was heard before turning around. Of course, he was looking directly at me but this time I knew he could actually see me.

“Hello Ronald!” I gave him a smile while sitting in the chair opposite of him. “I’m Victor Fuentes.” He raised his head up at me. I nodded my head “I’m guessing that’s my greeting?” He raised an eyebrow at me. I whistled lowly “Well, okay then be like that.” I flipped open the file that was in my hands and from the corner of my eye I could see him smirk. “As you know….or well don’t know seeing as you stood me up, I am your knew juvenile probation counselor…officer whatever you want to call me.”

He looked down avoiding my eyes “Bout that…..I got caught up in some stuff.”

“Yeah, I know….. You were out stealing!” I flipped my hair before speaking in a valley girl voice “And you got caught!” He gave me a fierce glower though I could vaguely see his lips twitch upward. I let out a faint chuckle; at least my little friend here has a slight since of humor. “I’m a little curious though.” I leaned back crossing my legs and folding my hands behind my head. “So Ronald…”

“Ronnie!” He interrupted me

“Well Ronnie since that’s what you prefer.” I watched Ronnie for any subtle changes in action, behavior or mood “So tell me……Why did you steal what you stole?”

“Umm….what….I.” Ronnie sputtered out before stopping himself from talking completely. He cleared his throat. “Just because.”

“Oh, come on and tell me.” I cocked my head to the side, letting a hint of a smirk play on my lips. “Was it for the money? Did you do it so that you could sell the stuff later?”

“N-no!” His hand started to shake. “J-just no!”

“Then what was…..”

“We need it!” He yelled at me. His jittery hand ran through his head again and again “We needed that shit!” His hand slammed against the table sending a loud boom echoing through the room. “WE NEEDED IT SO FUCKING MUCH!”

I heard three knocks on the door. That was our code for to asking if we need assistance. I guess Ronnie’s outburst was louder than what I thought it was. I shook my head no, knowing that they would be able to see me through the window. I then turned my attention back to the boy who looked like he was about to pass out.

“Ronnie….are you okay?” I watched as he trembled. He nodded his head yes just as tears began to fall down his face. I was beginning to worry. “Hey, are you sure? Do you need some water?”

“I’m f-fine.” He started nibbling on his thumb, must be a bad habit of his. He looked at his wrist as if trying to check the time. Once he realized he didn’t have a watch his glassy eyes looked to me. “What time is it?”

“Three forty-five.”

“Shit!” He jumped up sending his chair scrapping against the ground “I have to go! I have to go pick up my little sister.”

I cocked my eyebrows at the boy “You can’t just leave!”

“But…..” He bit his lip looking at me with wide eyes full of urgency. “But I have to go and get her. She’s only five; she’ll be scared all by herself.”

I sighed lightly “I can only let you go if your mom come and get you.”

Something in Ronnie changed at the mention of his mom. It was like I had unearthed something that wasn’t supposed to be dug up. Uncovered something that was supposed to stay covered for the rest of eternity. For lack of words, I had mentioned something that should have remained unspoken. What had his mom did to him? It had to be something bad for as soon as the words left my mouth his eyes flickered out. The spark that was once in them, was now gone.

“What happens if my mom doesn’t come?” His voice had gone monotone. He looked up at me with his lifeless eyes “What happens?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, your mother will come and get you Ronnie.” I looked into his eyes, trying to give him reassurance. But his dead eyes just looked down as if something on the table had become more interesting. I cleared my throat “If it’s really an inconvenience for your mother to come to the station I can just talk to her on the phone. Then I will release you myself.”

“I….um….okay.” He mumbled gaze still locked on the table

I groan at the boy “Ronnie, type in your mother’s number.”

I slid the phone over to him and watched as he pressed the number into the phone. Once he finished he gave it back to me. I pressed talk and the number rang three times before someone answered it.

“Hello!”

“Hello, this is Detective Victor Fuentes. I’m calling on behalf of Ronnie Radke. I was wondering if I could speak to his mother.”

There was a long pause before the voice spoke “This is she.”

“Really…..you’re Ronnie’s mother.”

“Yes!” She sounded rather flustered. I don’t know who she is but she’s a good actor. “I am Rachel Radke.”

I let my gaze fall on Ronnie “Well…..Rachel…..your son has been in a little bit of trouble today.”

“What kind of trouble?” She asked concern laced in her voice. “Is he okay?”

Though I knew she was faking about being his mother it was obvious that whoever this was still cared a great deal about Ronnie’s well-being.

“Oh no, Ronnie’s fine….just fine. Just a little….naughty.” I smirked at the boy. He just flashed me a smile. “He’s going to have to have a lot of visit with me for a while, but overall he’s fine.”

“Oh thank god!” She gasped. Suddenly a loud wailing rang through the phone. Is that a baby? “Oh, gosh she’s crying again. Mr. Fuentes if there isn’t anything else you need to talk to me about then I really have to go.”

“I won’t hold you up any longer. You get going Mrs. Radke.”

“Who….oh right!” She let out a nervous laugh. “Bye Mr. Fuentes. Have a great day.”

“Wow!” I whispered letting the phone dangle from my ear. She literally just blew her fucking cover just then, not that I didn’t know in the first place. I’m a detective and a probation officer; I can read people like an open book. I looked at Ronnie who was fidgeting nervously in the seat. I laughed. “Kid will you please calm down. You’re moving around like a crack head….. It’s making me itch.”

He gulped “Sorry…..so can I go now.”

I walked towards the door and slid my identification card through the transmitter “Sure thing, go right ahead.” I opened the door. “But I don’t get how…..” Ronnie shot out his seat and out the door before I could finish my sentence. I shook my head lightly. “How you’re going to get to your car.”

I leaned against the door frame tapping my heel against the floor. I watched the corner, waiting for the kid to round it. I bet you he’s going to run all the way down to the parking lot before he realizes that his car isn’t here. I laugh to myself. Dumb kids, and Ronnie happens to be one very good looking dumb kid. I check my watch to see that a minute had passed. Ronnie will be back in three….two...one. I look up to see a red faced Ronnie walking up to me. He was panting like a man that just finished running the Boston Marathon and I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Is there a problem Radke?”

“I….no….car….” He leaned over, resting his hands on his knees. He was trying desperately to catch his breath, the struggle is definitely real. “My….car isn’t….here.”

“I realized that.” I start down the hall. “And you would have too if you wouldn’t have took off before I explained it.” I glanced over my shoulder to see that Ronnie was still in the same spot as he was before. I turn and look at him with a raised eyebrow “Are you coming or not?”

“Yeah!”

Luckily the place had cleared a little while we talked. We got to the front rather quickly. I walked to the front desk where Alan was sitting. “Hey, I’m checking out Ronald Radke.”

“Wasn’t he just booked in for that robbery.” Alan questioned typing away at the computer. He glanced at me. “Vic how are you….”

“I’ll talk to dad.” I state interrupting him. That’s the perks of your dad being the police chief. There are certain things that you can do that others can’t. “Just let him out, I’ll settle anything that comes up later.”

I sign Ronnie out and then we head to the car. The ride was relatively silent besides the low volume Pantera that floated its way through the speakers. My gaze momentarily moves from the road to the passenger’s seat. Ronnie was looking out the window, watching the world pass by.

“You should really pay attention to the road you know?” He mumbles. I feel my cheeks heat up and I focus my gaze back to the road. He let’s out a low chuckle. “I didn’t know I was that appealing to the eyes.”

“Oh shut it.” I murmur, a slight smile playing on my lips. “It’s not like you weren’t looking at me earlier either.”

“Ehh!” I peek at him to see a smug grin on his face. “I may or may not like what I see.”

I roll my eyes at him “Stop flirting with me! What are you like sixteen?”

“Hey!” He wiggles his eyebrows at me in a supposedly seductive way. “I’m sixteen going on twenty-six.” He smirks “You know you want me.”

“In your puberty filled dreams.”

He chuckles “A boy can dream.”

“My God…..you’re such a fucking flirt.”

He leans back in the seat putting his arms behind his back “What can I say…….it’s in my nature.”

I can’t help but notice how different Ronnie acts now then he did when I first meet him. At the station, he was trying to put on this front. Act all tough and hard, like he was a gangster or something of that nature. But now, sitting in this car, he’s the complete opposite. He’s funny and obnoxiously flirty. I wonder what made him do such a complete three-sixty.

I let my curiosity get the best of me. “How come you were so timid at the station then?”

“Well…..” He sat quietly, probably picking through his thoughts. “I didn’t know how much trouble I would have been in and I didn’t want my sarcastic mouth to add to the trouble.” I nod in understanding. “Plus, I didn’t exactly know what kind of officer you would be. You could be the super strict kind of officer or the cool one that I could definitely get on with.”

I turned on Harrington street before coming to a stop at the side of the street. “And you’re conclusion was?”

“Mr. Fuentes you are…”

I shook my head “Please….call me Vic.”

“Well Vic, since that’s what you prefer.” I smile to myself, catching the fact that he was making a mockery of me from earlier today. “I can definitely get on with you.”

“Good…..cause we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other.”

“Right……” He mocked me opening the door

I grabbed his hand before he stepped out “I’m serious. You better come to the meetings from now on, you owe me that much.”

“Do I now?”

“Yes, in fact you do because if it wasn’t for me.” I let go of his arm. “You would still be in jail.”

He rose an eyebrow at me “No…..my mother released me.”

“That wasn’t your mom Ronnie. I may be cool and all but I’m not gullible. I knew the whole time that whoever the girl was that was on the phone was in fact not your mom.” He stared at me in awe “Why did you release me then?” He looked down at his hands “How did you know I wouldn’t go out and like hurt someone or something?

I chortled “I released you because……there’s obviously a lot going on in your life. I don’t know exactly what but I know it’s something. You intrigue me Ronnie. Your story just doesn’t add up right and it compels me. I want to find out what going on with you. I know that you don’t trust me enough to tell me what’s going on now but I hope that one day you do. I hope that one day you will open up to me so that I can help you.”

A smile plays on his lips “Maybe one day Mr. Fuent…..Vic. Maybe some day I will.” He stepped out the door closing it behind him. “See you later Vic.”

“Later.”

I wait until he safely get’s into his car before I pull off. The drive back seemed to take twice as long as the drive to get there did. Maybe, it’s because he was with me to keep me company. Ronnie was something special. He was nothing like he seemed. He wasn’t a bad kid; he just made some God awful decisions. But don’t we all at time. I pull into my parking spot at the station a cut my engine.

I filter my way through the station which had gotten busy again. It amazes me how busy this place can get and then how slow it can get in a matter of seconds. I finally get to my desk and I fall to it. I grab a file and try to start getting to work. I try but I just can’t seem to focus. That witty ass boy keeps meandering his way back to my brain. I groan in frustration, I definitely should not be feeling the way I do towards the boy. Not only did I just meet him but dammit he’s only sixteen years old. It’s fucking illegal; of course I would no it.

“What ya thinking bout?”

I jolt up sending my papers flying off my desk. They went up in the air and floated down slowly. I look to my side to find the source of the noise, of course it was Kellin.

“You bitch, you fucking scared me.” I grumble. I get to my feet and collect my papers. “You’re a fucker you know that.”

“Umhm, yeah I know.” My phone vibrates and he picks it up. Not that I mind, I’m use to Kellin doing that by now. “Vic, who is this…….OH MY GOD!”

I look at him with wide eyes “What? What is it?”

“Why is Ronnie’s name in your phone with a heart and a winky face beside it?” He whisper yelled at me so that no one else could hear. “And why is he sending you very sexually insinuative text?”

“Kellin stop being stupid, I don’t even have his number in my phone.”

Kellin shook the phone in front of my face “’Well who is this that’s texting you under his name stating and I’m reading this word for word.” He cleared his throat and I rolled my eyes. Kellin can be so dramatic sometimes. “I took the pleasure in putting my number in your phone. I know you don’t mind do the fact that you want my D.”

“What?” I yelled in surprise. The water that I was drinking went sprouting into the air. “You’re fucking kidding.” I yank the phone out of Kellin’s hand and read the text for myself. I felt a smile spread across my face. “That little fucker.”

“You want his…..” Kellin gasped causing me to look up at him. His blue orbs were as wide like saucers and they were staring daggers through me. “You’re a pedophile.”

“Am not!” I shouted in defense. I bit my lip to try and hide the smile that my lips wanted so desperately to give. “I am not!”

“You’re a wanna-be.” I furrowed my eyebrows and watched as a wide grin spread across his face. “A wanna-be pedophile!”

“Kellin!” I whined .

He let out a squeaky giggle “Wanna-be! Wanna-be! Wanna-be!” He skipped around my desk, his black hair flapping around behind him. “Wanna-be! That’s wants to get the D!”

A groan slipped out my mouth as I let my head fall to the desk “You’re never going to let this go are you?”

“You have a crush on your juvenile client.” Kellin sat on my lap and ruffled the hair on top of my head “I shall never let go of such a thing.”

He’s never going to let this go.

That’s just great.

Notes

I'm not exactly proud of this chapter but I just wanted to bring Vic into the story some kind of way. I hope you guys like it and I promise the next chapter will be ten times better than this one.