“Oh, shit. Oh, fuck.”
“Calm down. People are looking. Face me.”
“… I just.”
“I said face me, dammit. They’re filming.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“You were scared.”
“It just went off.”
“Shut up. We have to get your story straight now. Let me look at your face.”
“We should cover the body.”
“Leave it. He ain’t going nowhere.”
“I thought he was coming at me.”
“I know. I was there. Hey, hey, hey. Don’t look at them. Look at me.”
“I wanted it to be a warning shot.”
“What’s done is done.”
“Oh, fuck. Oh, shit.”
“We’ll work something out. The important thing is to remain calm. They’re watching us.”
“Oh, God.”
“Stop acting like a fucking rookie. They’re getting this all on tape. Fucking animals. Acting like we’re the enemy.”
“…”
“Listen to me. You thought he was coming at you, so you defended yourself, right?”
“…”
“Right? Answer, goddammit.”
“…”
“Alright. Good. Just nod. That’s fine.”
“…”
“The important thing is to stick to your story. I’m sure he has a record of some sort. They all do. We’ll find it and use it. The rest of the community will have your back.”
“… I didn’t mean to do it.”
“Shut the fuck up and listen, will you? We have your back. He came at you and you shot him. Say yes.”
“…”
“Say yes, motherfucker.”
“… Yes.”
“Good. That’s all you have to say. We’ll get you through this.”
“… Fuck!”
“I’m going to call it in now. Stick to your story and don’t say a goddamn word. I’m warning you.”
“…”
“We’ll get you through this.”
“…”
“I have a 10-47 on MLK Boulevard.”
*****
Richard B. Knight teaches by day and writes by night. His two novels, The Darkness of the Womb and A Boy and His Corpse, can be found on his Amazon page.
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