Preview Post: Good Intentions IV! (Patreon)

Yikes! I'm late on the middle of the month preview post! Turns out I don't have an excuse. I lost track of days, so I'm gonna... um... cop to an honest mistake.

Hrm... cops...

“You look proud of yourself in this mugshot.”

“You think?” Alex leaned forward in his seat to see the computer monitor, but he couldn’t get a line of sight without standing. The officer on the other side of the desk glared fiercely enough to make Alex think better of it the instant his ass left the seat. He sat back down. “Guess I’ll have to take your word for it.”

Alex lived only blocks away from the King County Correctional Facility in downtown. This was his first time inside. So far his tour had included everything from a holding cell to several offices, including this area full of desks, deputies, and arrestees far grouchier than him.

“Not too many people smile for their mugshots,” said Sergeant Romano. He looked to be in his forties, with a little more of his shirt hanging over his belt than he probably wanted. His frown seemed to be a default expression. “Usually when they do, it’s ‘cause they’re drunk or high and reality hasn’t caught up with them yet. You don’t have that excuse.”

“Doesn’t sound like much of an excuse.”

“It isn’t.”

“So what’s next?” Alex asked brightly. “We did the mugshot. You scanned my fingerprints. You guys already checked me for warrants, right?”

Romano shifted to a new and different frown. “What, are you taking notes?”

“I’ve never been arrested and booked before. This is a learning experience for me.”

“Keep getting into stupid fights and you’ll get to know the procedure. I’ve had some guys through here so many times they could practically book themselves. Maybe you’ll be one of ‘em.” Romano turned his eyes back to his computer and tapped a couple of keys.

Alex stayed silent. This wasn’t technically his first arrest, but his previous incident didn’t exactly go into the local database.

“You got any health issues we need to know about?” asked Romano. “Tuberculosis, epilepsy, gonorrhea, AIDS, anything?”

“That’s how you handle that question?”

“Yeah, that’s how I ask. We gotta know in case you have anything dangerous to others or if we gotta keep an eye on you for a seizure or whatever. I’ve got a whole questionnaire here if you wanna take a look in case you’re forgettin’ something. Most people who have some health issue remember it, but you could be one of the special ones.”

“Nothing,” said Alex.

“Gotcha. Nothin’ except a severe impulse control problem, huh?”

“This sounds like the kind of conversation that should involve my lawyer.”

Romano snorted. “It ain’t like there’s any question what happened. Hell, with all the cell phones these days, you’re probably on YouTube already. We’ll find it. Might help if you’re honest about what happened.” He typed in a few more keystrokes before he glanced to Alex again.

“Think I’d rather talk to my lawyer first,” said the younger man.

“Your call. You and your buddies are looking at assault and resisting arrest, at least. You had it planned in advance. Cops got hurt dealing with the whole mess. All to throw some punches at some assholes who…” Romano looked around the station office, then at Alex. “Yep. I don’t see them here. Just you. That’s how much good throwing punches did.”

Alex sighed. “Am I seriously getting lectured on inappropriate use of force by the Seattle Police Department?”