its lights still flashing. He opened the front passenger door for her, and she climbed in. He was letting her ride in the front. Her heart pounded in her sore ears.
The door shut, sealing her in with the serious clunk that only happens in cop cars. Then Officer Norton climbed into the driver’s seat. Riel could see the pistol in his utility belt, and got a pang of irrational fear. He’s going to shoot me. Her chest tightened around her racing heart. Lights flashed behind her eyes, mingling with the strobe of the cruiser lights.
She tried to steady her breathing. He wasn’t going to shoot her, not after he let her sit in the front of his car.
Officer Norton glanced sideways at her. “You okay?” His voice seemed loud in the quiet cabin.
She took another breath, her fear abating. “Y-yeah.”
He gazed at her a moment longer. “That’s some serious action you just saw there.”
She didn’t respond. She didn’t know what to say.
The cop’s lips twitched up slightly. “You did a good job on the guy that hurt your boyfriend. Pretty good shooting, especially considering what position you were in.”
Riel winced, bile rising up in her throat. Why weren’t they arresting her? She shot someone, with a hot gun. She shot someone…“I didn’t want to kill…I was just trying to keep him from killing us—”
“I know you didn’t. I’m sorry I brought it up. Buckle up, let’s get out of here, okay?”
She nodded. He started the engine and spoke into his radio, telling the other officers where he was headed, but she barely heard. She was still wrapped in the blanket, but she awkwardly maneuvered the seatbelt around her torso.
They pulled away from the scene, the engine humming smoothly. The flashing patrol lights faded behind them, leaving them immersed in the over-bright glow of the many dashboard instruments. Riel felt lost and dizzy. She pressed her feet against the floorboards; she wished he would drive faster. What if Evan died before she got there? She clenched her teeth, pushing the thought away.
It was several blocks before Officer Norton spoke. “It’s a tough life, being caught up this gang bullshit, if you’ll excuse my language, miss.”
Riel felt a pang of dread, and glanced at him sharply. “I’m not,” she said. “I was just—”
“Mishmash happens to be a friend of mine,” he said.
Riel just stared at the officer as he gazed stone-faced out the windshield. Her heart wriggled in her throat. “Who’s Mishmash?”
He was silent for a moment longer, then he gave her a shrewd glance. “He told me a few days ago that he’d found someone who might be able to bring Isaias down. Now, I don’t always see eye-to-eye with Mishmash, but he’s pretty good at keeping things from getting out of hand around here. He’s a good businessman, even if I don’t like what he’s selling. I can’t blame a guy for wanting to make a living, I guess, is what I’m saying. We all do what we can to get by.” He raised her eyebrows at her, his gaze darting between her and the road. She licked her lips and stayed silent.
He rubbed his nose with his fist and continued. “Isaias’ people are the ones causing all the problems around here. I don’t like being called to scenes like this one. If there’s any way to stop stuff like that from happening, to keep people like you and your boyfriend from getting hurt, or worse, it would be irresponsible not to do it.”
They pulled up in front of the hospital. Riel’s heart raced, and her mouth was dry. She didn’t know if this was a trap or not. She just wanted to see Evan. She wished none of this had happened. She hid her face in her hands.
Officer Norton shut off the engine, and she could feel him looking at her. “Listen, Miss Mejia. You seem like a good girl who doesn’t deserve to be caught up in this bullcrap. But you shot a man tonight. I’m guessing we could find drugs in one or both vehicles if we looked hard enough. You know as well as I do that I should be taking you to the station, instead of here to the hospital to see your boyfriend. But I’d like us to work together.”
She wiped her eyes with trembling hands and looked up at him. He smiled faintly.
“Let’s go see how your boyfriend and Mishmash are doing, all right?”
She nodded, and they got out of the car.
The hospital