CHAPTER 12
1224 Words
CHAPTER 12
Kennedy’s phone rang as soon as Reuben got up to get himself more food.
“Hello?”
Without any sort of greeting, her dad demanded, “Please tell me you don’t have anything to do with that protest they’re planning this afternoon in front of the court house.”
Hi, Dad. It’s good to talk to you, too. “No, I’ve got class soon, and I’m headed over to the Lindgrens’ for dinner tonight.”
She could perfectly envision her father’s frown all the way from Yanji.
“Well, I don’t want you anywhere near it. These things always start out as peaceful demonstrations, but you never know what can happen after that. It’s like piling up all your old gas cans right outside a match factory and then acting surprised when you get an explosion.”
“I wasn’t planning to go. I already said I’m too busy.” She had been longing for her dad’s advice last night, but now his paranoid protection annoyed her more than anything else.
“So, did you think any more about what you’re going to do? Are you going to file a complaint?”
Had she made up her mind on anything? Or had everyone else just made the decision for her? At least if she let it go, she’d be returning to some semblance of normalcy. A little while longer, and all this would be a distant and distasteful memory.
“I think I’ll just forget about it and move on.”
“That’s good.” Her dad had this irritating habit of smacking his lips when he agreed with something she said, a quirk she’d almost expect from a toothless old grandfather. “I just got off the phone with my college buddy Jefferson. He’s a lawyer now. Got a practice in Worchester. He’d already heard about your encounter when I called.”
Kennedy tried not to sigh so loud her dad would hear it on the other line.
“I told Jefferson what you said happened. He believes your story, but honestly, sugar, he said you’re lucky the department hasn’t charged you both with assaulting an officer. They could have identified you pretty easily by now if they’d wanted to bring you in. The fact that you’re still on campus making plans to go to class and visit Carl and Sandy’s tonight is proof enough that the department knows their guy messed up. But unless you get evidence, a recording of the confrontation or another witness who watched the whole thing, there’s no way your word alone would hold up. It sounds like your best bet is to lay low, let this whole thing blow over, and avoid jumping on any officers’ backs in the future.”
She knew her father was trying to lighten the situation. Knew that he had probably spent hours out of his day talking with his lawyer friend and researching Massachusetts law. But none of this was funny. None of this would ever be funny. Part of her was so ready to forget last night ever happened, ready to go back to being a regular first-year pre-med student. Ready to talk with Reuben about literature and science and foreign countries, not abusive cops.
But another side of her hated the helplessness she’d experienced when she got pulled over on Arlington. The helplessness she still felt as she listened to every single person she talked to, all the way from an apparently sympathetic policeman to her own father, telling her it was useless to seek retribution. No, not even useless. It was dangerous. If she made a complaint, they’d turn around and lock her up for assaulting a cop. No questions asked. No real justice.
Her dad sighed. “I’m sorry, sugar. I know it’s not the answer you wanted to hear. And I told Jefferson, and I told your mother too because she’s worrying herself straight off her diet over the whole situation — I told them that if you wanted to seek legal redress, I’d support you. Jefferson’s a good lawyer, and he agreed to give us a fair rate. So if you really know what you’re getting into and still feel like the right thing to do is bring this officer to justice, we’re willing to help you try. We just don’t want you to get your hopes up too high, because without any other evidence, well ...” He let his voice trail off. Kennedy was thankful. She’d heard enough threats in the past twelve hours.
“You don’t need to let us know what you’re going to do right now,” her dad went on. “It’s probably something you want to think through, and honestly, it might be best to wait until some of the media frenzy dies down. And who knows? Maybe there were other witnesses who will come forward. We can always pray that someone who saw the whole thing will have the guts to stand up and tell people what really happened.”
Kennedy watched Reuben walking back toward their table with his second breakfast tray as her dad added, “By the way, how is your friend doing? How’s Reuben?”
“He’s better now. Couple stitches in his head, and he’s walking like he’s pretty sore, but the doctors didn’t seem too concerned.”
“Well, I’m sorry this happened to him. I’m sure he’s a great guy, and I know he didn’t do anything to deserve to be treated like this.”
“Thanks, Daddy.” Kennedy felt her throat constricting and wished she had a cup of tea.
“You tell Reuben to get better. Tell him your mom and I are praying for him, and you take care of yourself too, baby girl, ok? I don’t want to be seeing your face on Channel 2’s webpage for at least another month.”
They shared an awkward sort of laugh. Kennedy knew her dad’s heart must be just as heavy as hers. After the usual rounds of I love you and I miss you, they hung up just as Reuben sat back down with his extra tray of food. “You talking to your dad?”
“Yeah, how did you know?
“You just get a certain look on your face. That’s all.”
Kennedy helped herself to a piece of pineapple from Reuben’s fruit salad and glanced at the time. Twenty minutes before they had to be at their lit class. She’d only been awake for a little over an hour and already had the feeling this would be one of those days that would never end.
“What did your dad say?” Reuben asked. “About last night, I mean. Did you tell him?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t need to. He’s more of a Channel 2 news junkie than anyone on the whole East Coast.”
“What did he think about it?” Reuben was studying a piece of cantaloupe as if it might contain all the calculus formulas he’d need for next week’s quiz.
Kennedy found herself lowering her voice. Why did it feel as if she were part of some big conspiracy? “He talked to a lawyer friend of his. Says unless someone else comes forward with more concrete evidence, there’s really nothing we can do.”
“So he wants you to drop the case?” There was a hint of hopefulness in Reuben’s voice that Kennedy knew he was trying to hide.
She nodded, and watched a small flicker of relief light up in his eyes. She tested her words carefully, like she might do with a piece of litmus paper she didn’t want to get too wet. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
Reuben’s body tensed, his fork froze halfway to his mouth.
Kennedy hoped she wouldn’t regret her question. Oh, well. Too late to backtrack now. “Is there any particular reason ...” She struggled to find the right words. “About last night. Is there something you’ve been keeping from me?”
Reuben set his fork by his plate. “Like what?”
Kennedy forced a smile she was sure looked totally unconvincing. “I don’t know. Any reason you’re scared of the cops finding out who we are?”
He grabbed two grapes and plopped them into his mouth with a shrug. “I’ve just learned that when the elephants start fighting, it’s best to stay as far away as possible.”
- Writer
