“Casey Young. It seems like you’ve had a few run-ins with the law before.” A young officer said as he approached her. “I just got the 411 on your rap sheet.”

“Nothing to serious sir, just a few overnighters in jail.” Casey responded nonchalantly as she glanced at all the people crowding around.

The officer stood a few inches taller than her and looked down on her in intimidation “Why would you lie to me if I just said I saw your rap sheet Ms. Young.”

“Because I don’t want everyone to know the things that I’ve done wrong. Sir.” She seethed through her clenched teeth. Casey had no tolerance for cops on a power trip and her patience was spiraling down into the oblivion that was her rage.

“Ah, I see. Don’t want anyone to know the truth huh? Well we’re going to get the truth out of you downtown.” The officer responded as he grabbed Casey’s arm roughly and moved her towards the car.

“What the ***** are you doing? She didn’t do anything wrong!” Shane yelled as she moved towards the officer and Casey.

Another female officer intercepted Shane and blocked her path. “Ms. Young is being taken in for questioning.”

“Questioning?! What the *****? She saved my life, we told you what happened what more do you want?”

“A man nearly died tonight ma’am and that was at the hands of Ms. Young, we have to see if she is accountable for attempted murder.” The officer stated as Casey was being put into the back of the cruiser.

“Attempted murder? This is ***** ridiculous, I’m calling my lawyer.” Bette snapped at the officer.

“You have the right to do that. We’ll be in touch with you tomorrow as well for questioning.” The officer turned around and started to disperse the curious crowd.

Carmen was staring at Casey in the back of the cop car. She slowly made her way to the side where Casey was sitting at and pressed her hand to the glass of the window and Casey in turn pressed her forehead to the window. This whole event, it was all so painfully familiar to them both; except this time there were no tears or ‘I love yous’. It was everything they hadn’t said but that they wanted to say so badly but couldn’t because of certain circumstances.

The cop car pulled away and for as long as they could, neither woman took their eyes off of the other. Carmen kept staring in Casey’s general direction even as the cruiser rounded the corner and out of sight.

Shane watched the whole thing and felt something she knew she had no right to feel at that moment and did her best to get rid of… jealousy.

Bette had seen it as well and glanced over to her friend to gage her reaction. It was a look she hadn’t seen very often on Shane and it bothered her a lot. Trying to take her friends mind off of the situation she placed her hand on the taller woman’s shoulder. “Go to her, you really need each other right now.”

Shane nodded and made her way over to Carmen. The Latina was still staring at the point where the cruiser had turned the corner and didn’t seem to notice Shane’s presence.

It killed Shane to know that she was the cause for all of this. ‘What have I done?’

She placed both her hands on top of Carmen’s shoulders to grab her attention. “Carmen, are you okay?”

Carmen closed her eyes, took in a deep breath. and nodded her head.

“Let’s go inside.” Shane said as she wrapped her arm around her and led her towards the house.

Carmen walked with Shane, arms still wrapped tightly around herself. ‘This can’t be happening.’