could see Raul better.
“We’re the exception, us oldest. Most cops are middle kids. Peacemakers. Social justice advocates in the sense of wanting safer streets. A little rebellious.” Raul squinted at a group of guys gathered on the sidewalk up ahead. “Bet you didn’t know that.”
Tommy hadn’t known. But he was more concerned with the activity in front of them. Now that they were closer he could see that there were three guys. “Drug deal?” Tommy felt comfortable asking Raul.
“It’s not a family reunion. I can tell you that.” Raul honed in on the guys, never speeding or using his lights. “Time to have a little talk.”
But before he could reach them, the guys must’ve spotted the squad car because they took off running in different directions. “Party’s over, boys,” Raul muttered under his breath. He called for backup, and sped toward the one guy running straight ahead of him. He slammed the squad car into park. “Don’t leave,” he told Tommy.
As Raul exited the car, Tommy saw the runner reach in his pocket and grab a large gun. “He’s armed,” Tommy shouted after Raul. Of course, the officer would’ve seen the weapon. Tommy didn’t have much experience in identifying guns, but this one looked like a 9-millimeter.
Raul had already told him that the dealers in the area were using armor-piercing ammo. The sort of weapon that didn’t give cops a chance.
“Drop the gun!” Raul shouted. He had his own weapon drawn now, too.
Tommy wanted to run from the squad car and help his new friend, but he couldn’t. He was strictly forbidden and he wasn’t armed. So he did all he could do. God, please stop that guy. Protect Raul, please.
The suspect ran a few more yards and then before Raul caught him, the guy did an about-face and sprinted toward where Tommy was sitting. He was younger than Tommy had guessed. A teenager, most likely. No telling what was going to happen. Was the runner going to jump in the squad car or turn down an alley? Tommy’s heart pounded. If the suspect tried to steal the vehicle, Tommy would have to jump out.
Instead, a few feet from the car, the suspect tossed his pistol and stopped. His sides were heaving and clearly he couldn’t catch his breath. Something else, too. The kid’s eyes were only half open.
“Why you running from me, huh?” Raul was out of breath, too, as he reached the guy. But he was recovering fast.
“I ain’t running.” Anger spewed from the kid. He wore an oversized gray hoodie and baggie sweatpants. He had a blue bandanna wrapped around his head. “You profiled, man. Why you gotta profile?”
“Anything sharp in your pockets, any other weapons?” Raul pulled his cuffs from his back pocket. “Shouldn’t have run, man. No reason to make me chase you.”
The suspect jerked his shoulder, but he didn’t resist or try to run again. “I ain’t going in. Not this time.”
Raul cuffed the kid. “You’re under arrest.”
Two additional officers approached as Raul searched the suspect’s pockets. Tommy had a front-row seat to the whole thing. From the radio he heard dispatch report that the other two suspects had also been apprehended.
Raul must’ve found the guy’s wallet because Raul knew the guy’s name now. “You’re just sixteen, Wallace. What you doing out here on the streets?”
The kid didn’t talk. Tommy searched the guy’s face. He looked hard and sick and broken. Like he’d lived three lifetimes out here. Sad, Tommy thought. In a different world, Wallace could’ve been an athlete or a scholar. Anything but whatever he was doing out here on Post Road.
A quick check of Wallace’s pockets netted a bag of heroin, two pain pills and a container with needles and a syringe. “You on heroin, Wallace?”
At first Wallace didn’t say anything. But then he hung his head. “I don’t wanna be, man. I don’t know how. I’m drug sick.”
“You’re new out here.” Raul positioned himself in front of the suspect. He put his hand on the kid’s shoulder. “You dealing, Wallace?”
“No, man. Just using. I swear.” The kid hung his head so far down his neck looked broken. “I can’t… live like this. I need help.”
“Okay.” Raul’s tone softened. “We’ll get you help. Possession of a firearm’s gonna hurt you and you can’t be down here buying heroin, but I’ll do what I can.” He waited till Wallace looked him in the eye. “This is your first offense, that right?”
“Yeah, man. I… I didn’t mean it. I don’t deal. I’m being