Chapter 20 #2
Beau Lee recognized the fear in Joey’s and Darian’s eyes.
He’d seen it in his mother’s eyes the night she came face-to-face with a police officer.
Joey was right. People who had filmed the police found themselves prosecuted for minor offenses, sometimes serving jail and prison time.
If the harassment was really bad, they’d leave the city where they grew up—their homes—to escape being under the police’s thumb.
“Can I ask you something, Darian?” Beau Lee angled himself in the booth to face her. He looked into her eyes and asked, “What made you record the traffic stop in the first place?”
Darian was quiet as she contemplated his question. She continued to knuckle her temples, then said, “I just felt like something was wrong.”
“A feeling?”
“Yes, a feeling…” She looked as if she wanted to cry; the trauma was discernible. “I thought they were going to kill him. I was sure of it.”
“Can’t you just take the video to the FBI or something?” Joey asked. “They can tell if it’s authentic, can’t they? They’ve got machines and software for that. Tell them you talked to us. Hell, have them call us, and we’ll tell them exactly what we’re telling you now.”
“That’s not how this works,” Beau Lee said. “It’s a criminal matter. The cops involved could face charges that could potentially put them away for life.”
“Good,” Joey said, “they deserve it!”
“Yes, but we can’t make that happen without your full cooperation.”
“Look, you two, we’re begging here,” Finn said. “Hollis needs our help. We wouldn’t be here if there were another way, but there isn’t. Please come back to the city. We’ll get you a place for the night. We can keep you two safe.”
“We got your backs,” Capes said. “No harm will come to either of you. I promise you that.”
“How the hell are you going to promise something like that?” Joey said. “We’re talking about Chicago PD here. We shouldn’t need to be kept safe from them. They’re supposed to be protecting us.”
“You saw what they did to Mr. Montrose,” Darian said. “They shouldn’t be on the streets. Who knows, they might’ve already done this to someone else, or who’s to say they won’t do it again?”
“What are you saying, baby?” Joey asked with a furrowed brow. “You want to go back to the city with them? You want to go on record?”
“I do,” she said. “It’s the right thing, Joey. Those cops need to answer for what they did. Period.”
Finn looked outside. The snow was starting to amass on the Crown Vic. “If we’re going to go, we might want to roll now,” he said. “Before they shut down the highway.”
Darian groaned; she could hardly keep her eyes open. “This headache’s getting worse,” she said. “Joey’s right. I need something stronger.”
Beau Lee pulled out his phone and searched for the nearest drugstore. “There’s a CVS two miles from here. Joey, do you think you could follow us?”
“Yeah, I can manage that,” he said, taking one more bite of an onion ring. “Where are you going to put us up for the night? Because there’s no way we can stay at my mom’s house, and Darian’s place ain’t even a consideration.”
“We have rooms booked at a hotel,” Beau Lee said, getting up from the booth. “I can book you another.”
“Yeah, no one will look for you there,” Capes said, then whispered to Beau Lee, “what if they’re all booked up, boss?”
“Then give up your room, and we’ll bunk together in the double queens.”
“Ah, man, but you snore too loud!”
“You’ll survive.”
Beau Lee reached his hand out for Darian to take, and he helped her to her feet.
“Hold on, I’ve got to pay the bill.” Joey skimmed the bill, totaling $34.67. “Haven’t seen our server. She probably went on break or something.”
Beau Lee pulled two twenties and a five from his wallet and dropped it on the table. “That’ll cover it,” he said. “Let’s go.”
“Works for me,” Joey said, last out of the booth.
They all walked past the counter. Capes escorted Joey and Darian outside. Beau Lee noticed that no one was at the register. A busser was busy collecting dishes. Beau Lee got the young man’s attention and said, “Please let our waitress know we paid. The money’s on the table. Tip included.”
“Sure, okay, sir,” the busser said. He showed little care as he continued to fill a bucket with dirty plates.
Finn looked at Beau Lee perplexed but said nothing. Beau Lee didn’t expect him to understand, but he’d gone his entire life under a cloud of suspicion for no other reason than his skin color, and he didn’t need anyone thinking they’d skipped out on the bill.
Outside, the group climbed into their vehicles and escaped the blowing snow.
They started their engines; wiper blades batted snow from the windshields and exhaust poured from the tailpipes.
Finn navigated the vehicle over the slick ice as he eased out of the parking lot.
Joey gripped the wheel tightly as he followed closely behind.
The two-car caravan drove toward the CVS, which was located in a shopping center. Beau Lee prayed that neither vehicle would slip or get stuck in the mounting snow. They had a few hours’ drive ahead of them. He dialed the hotel’s front desk and requested an additional room for Joey and Darian.
“Yes, we have a room available,” the front desk receptionist said. “However, it’s only a queen. Would that be fine?”
“It’ll have to do,” he said. “Thank you.”
“Not a problem, Mr. Cooper.”