Rendition Protocol

Victim or Perp

2

Victim or Perp

Royal Police Force, American Road, St. John’s, isle of Antigua.

“You’re not going to fingerprint me!” Jana yelled.

The uniformed officer repeated his command. “Miss, you are going to be fingerprinted. You have no legal basis to refuse. If you do not comply, we’ll force you.”

She backed into a corner of the police station’s intake room and then lunged for a door handle, but the steel door was locked from the other side.

The officer pressed a button on the wall and spoke. “I need a team in here right now.”

Within moments, three officers entered and grabbed her by the arms. “Having a little trouble here, Charlie?” one said.

Jana thrashed against their viselike grips.

“Calm down, miss. Calm down,” one of the officers said. But Jana slammed her heel into his foot. It impacted the lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve. He buckled under the blow but held tight.

Charlie, the arresting officer, lunged to take the man’s place as a third officer circled behind and put a thick forearm around her neck then wrenched it tight.

“Assaulting an officer? Well, that’s going to cost you another six months inside. Let’s get her into the chair. We’ll print her once she’s secured.”

“No!” she screamed against the choke hold.

The trio of officers yanked her into a metal rolling chair, then strapped her arms, hands, feet. The officers stood back a moment and caught their breath. The struggle had been brief but exhausting.

“She’s strong as an ox,” one said.

“Good God,” another officer said as he removed his boot. “That hurts like hell. Hey, lady. What is wrong with you?”

“I’m not going to be fingerprinted,” Jana returned.

“Well, I’m afraid that’s not your decision.”

She looked at them through eyes of steel. “I do not consent to this!” The bindings on her hands and feet brought back visions of her ordeal the year prior. The memories began to flicker and pop in her mind.

“Again, not your decision.” He looked at the other officers. “Let’s roll her to the table. She’ll be printed alright.”

“No!” she yelled as she thrashed against her bindings. Though the officers could not tell, Jana’s right hand had begun to shake.

One said, “What’s her problem? It’s not like we’re trying to hurt her. What did she do anyway?”

Charlie replied, “Busted a guy up pretty bad. He’s headed to the hospital. Never seen anything like it. I’m not even sure he’s going to make it. And she won’t even tell us her name. Must not want us to know who she really is.”

An officer said, “Tighten that wrist restraint. Good, now let’s get the digital pad underneath one finger at a time.”

She struggled and thrashed but could not prevent her fingerprints from being taken. Her chest heaved and the edges of her vision began to darken.

“Good work, boys,” Charlie said. “Get her into solitary for now. And leave her in the chair. She needs a little time to cool down. I think the detectives are on their way.”

“Hey, is she alright? Miss?”

Jana’s eyes rolled into her skull until only the whites showed. Her body began to convulse.

“Oh, s**t!” Charlie yelled. “She’s having a seizure or something. Quick, call an ambulance and tell them to expedite!”