28.

  “Am I under arrest?” Johnny asked. He was sitting in the interrogation room of the Denero county police station.

  “Right now? No, but you could be if you’re not careful,” the cop, Officer Reginald, told Johnny as he took a seat across the table from him.

  “What would I need to be careful about?” Johnny said.

  “You’re here because we got a tip from one of your accomplices,” Officer Reginald said.

  “I would need to be doing something illegal for anyone I knew to be an accomplice. I’ve done nothing illegal,” Johnny bluffed.

  “That’s not what Hector tells us,” the officer said.

  Johnny paused for a second, then bluffed, “Hector? I don’t really know a Hector, I think I have English with a kid named Hector, but I don’t think I’d know him if I saw him, if you brought me here to pick him out of a line up you might be out of luck,” Johnny said, shrugging his shoulders.

  “You know why we brought you here,” Officer Reginald said.

  “I honestly have no idea,” Johnny said.

  “Then why did you hand yourself over so fast?”

  “Sir, I am a law-abiding citizen, it would only disservice me not to comply with the requests of an officer of the peace,” Johnny said, holding back as much sarcasm as he could.

  “You’re a smart kid, aren’t you? Officer Reginald asked as he leaned back in his chair across from Johnny, “Maybe a little too smart.”

  “Going to UCLA next year,” Johnny smiled.

  “I wouldn’t worry about registering for class yet,” Officer Reginald said.

  “Why is that?”

  “Because we got a warrant to search your house, right now half a dozen of my boys are ripping that place apart, they find so much as a gram of weed, and you will be placed under arrest.”

  “Good thing they won’t find anything,” Johnny said.

  “Hector told us everything, he told us about your little operation, about your Cartel. You stupid kid, what do you think you’re some underage El’Chapo?”

  Johnny scoffed at the idea, “Me? Running a cartel? Seriously, that must be the stupidest thing I have ever heard,” Johnny smiled.

  The door to the interrogation room opened, and another Officer came in, he walked up to Officer Reginald and whispered something in his ear. Reginald furrowed his brow and took a deep breath, “Really?” he said, turning to the other officer.

  “Nothing sir,” he said.

  Officer Reginald rubbed his eyes and groaned. He turned to the other officer, “Tell the Mexican he tries shit like that again he’s going to jail for the rest of life.”

  “He’s Ecuadorian,” Johnny said, smiling.

  “Thought you didn’t know him,” Officer Reginald said.

  Johnny looked at Officer Reginald, “Has there been a new crack in the case, Officer?” Johnny asked.

  “Don’t push your fucking luck, I can’t prove it, but I think right now all you’re thinking about is the sheer number of bullets you have dodged tonight,” he said pointing an angry finger at Johnny.

  As Tabby’s Uber made its way back to the Vincent house, she saw someone walking down the side of the road, wearing a pink sequin dress with a corsage on her right hand.

  “Hey!” she said, moving up to the driver, “Pull over for a second,” the driver pulled up to the girl, and Tabby rolled her window down. “Gretchen?” she asked as she looked over Gretchen’s face. Her hair was messed and frizzed. Her make up running down her eyes and her dress wrinkled and disheveled.

  “What? Oh, you’re Johnny’s sister, Tabby, right?” Gretchen said.

  “What are you doing here, why aren’t at prom?” Tabby asked.

  Gretchen shook her head, “Something happened. It was insane,” she said.

  “What did that idiot do now?” Tabby asked.

  “I don’t know,” Gretchen said, exhaustion in her voice.

  Tabby opened the door, “Get in, get in,” Tabby said, moving over to give Gretchen room to join her in the Uber.

  “So, what happened?” Tabby asked.

  “Well, we were dancing and having a great time, everything was, it was perfect, then,” Gretchen sighed.

  “Did he try to feel you up or something?” Tabby asked.

  “No, some cops showed up, Johnny saw them and told me to sneak out the back, Tabby, I think Johnny got arrested!”

  Tabby looked down and put her hands in her face. She took a deep breath and collected herself, “How much do you know?” Tabby asked.

  “I know a lot,” Gretchen said as she started to breath faster, “Oh God Johnny’s going to jail, no, no, no,” she began to cry.

  “No stop, it’s okay,” Tabby said, “Johnny is smart, if anyone can get out of this it’s Johnny,” she said, rubbing Gretchen’s shoulder. “The most evidence they could have are some rumors they heard from another kid, Johnny doesn’t have any weed on him or any at home, he got rid of all of it, there’s nowhere near enough evidence to arrest him, much less convict him of anything, he’s going to be fine,” Tabby said, trying to reassure herself just as much as she was trying to encourage Gretchen.

  “Really?” Gretchen said, “He’s going to be okay, that’s what you’re saying right? He’s going to be okay?” She asked.

  “Johnny’s always had a way of dodging trouble when it counts, I bet he’ll probably be home before us,” Tabby said, smiling at her brother’s girlfriend.

  “Okay, you’re right, Johnny is smart,” Gretchen wiped her hand under he eye’s, “He’s so smart and so cool, he’s so awesome,” Gretchen smiled.

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  “He poses,” Tabby said, causing the two girls to share a laugh.

  “Let’s get something to drink. I know a club that doesn’t card me, want to go?”

  “Yeah, I don’t usually drink, but I think that one would be awesome right now,” Gretchen said.

  Tabby directed her Uber to Breaker’s Bar. The two girls pulled off their corsages and got out of the car. Gretchen tried to tidy up her hair as they approached the doorman.

  “Well, aren’t you ladies dressed up tonight, what’s the occasion?” he said as he opened the door for them, not even asking for IDs.

  “We were at a gala,” Tabby said as the two highschoolers made their way inside and to the bar.

  “Tabitha Hepburn,” the bartender said, calling Tabby by the fake name she used when she was playing adult, “Your usual cosmopolitan?” he asked.

  “Just a beer, one for my friend too,” she said as Gretchen took her seat next to Tabby.

  Two beers were brought to the girls, and they both raised their glasses.

  “I got to ask, what is it about Johnny? Why would a girl like you want to date him?” Tabby asked.

  “I don’t know, I mean he’s pretty cute, and he’s brilliant,” Gretchen said.

  “I don’t know if brilliant is the right word,” Tabby said, “He’s more creative, but he can think on his feet pretty fast. I mean, it’s not like you met him in one of your AP classes.”

  “I think if he applied himself more, he probably could have gotten into one of those classes,” Gretchen said.

  Tabby took another drink, “I think Johnny only seems to apply himself if the results can satisfy his rampaging Id.”

  “But when he does apply himself, you have to admit your brother is capable of some wild things, it’s kind of sexy,” Gretchen smiled.

  “Easy, you’re talking about my brother,” the two girls shared another laugh.

  Tabby held her glass up to Gretchen, “To the craziest guy either of us will probably ever meet,” Tabby smiled and held her glass up to Gretchen’s.

  “I’ll say,” Gretchen laughed as she clicked their glasses and shared a drink with Tabby.

  Back at the Denero county police department.

  “Are we just about done here? You haven’t found any contraband in my domicile or on my person, you have nothing more than the hearsay of a character that you know is already guilty, I do believe that unless you’re about to charge me with a crime, I should be free to leave whenever I please, is that correct?” Johnny asked as Officer Reginald led him down the hallway to the precinct lobby.

  “You are free to go, Mr. Vincent,” Officer Reginald said, “Unfortunately your phone was lost in all of this, chaos. If we find it, we’ll mail it back to you. It should take six to eight weeks, let’s just chalk it up to civil forfeiture.”

  “You know you can’t look at it without my consent, and my passcode,” Johnny said.

  “Yeah I know, good luck getting a ride home, it’s a nice night, taking a good stroll to think about what almost happened to you tonight would be good for you,” Officer Reginald said as he patted Johnny’s shoulder.

  “I’m his ride!” Johnny looked up and saw Mr. Bergman.

  “Son, do you know this man?” Officer Reginald asked.

  “Yeah…he’s my teacher,” Johnny said.

  “I am his teacher, Chet Bergman nice to meet you, officer,” he extended his arm and took Officer Reginald’s hand giving it a firm man’s handshake, “I heard that young Johnathan was detained, what’s the meaning of this?” Mr. Bergman asked with curiosity and concern in his voice.

  “We received an anonymous tip-”

  “Hector,” Johnny said.

  “An anonymous tip, that Mr. Vincent was involved in some kind of, school drug trade, and that he was possibly in possession of controlled substances,” Officer Reginald said.

  “What?!” Mr. Bergman said, shocked, “You think-” Mr. Bergman’s face contorted in confusion and bafflement, “You think my star student is-is some kind of drug dealer?”

  “It’s very complicated Mr-”

  “Bergman,” Mr. Bergman said as he reached for Johnny’s shoulder and pulled the boy to him, “I can give you my word as an educator, young Mr. Vincent is a star pupil, a brilliant young man, much too smart to get in any trouble with drugs, you’ve obviously made some sort of huge mistake, I know you didn’t find any drugs on him, right Johnny?”

  “Yeah, why would I do drugs,” Johnny said, then turned to Officer Reginald, “I’m going to UCLA next year, I would never risk something so important just to get high,” Johnny said.

  “Stop laying it on. You’re already free to go,” Office Reginald said.

  “I should think so,” Mr. Bergman said, “I’ll drive you home Johnny,” he turned to the officers as he began to escort Johnny out of the precinct, “Ruin prom for a bunch of innocent kids, I hope you’re proud of yourselves,” he said turning to the officers as he led his student out.

  “They’re just doing their jobs Mr. Bergman, we should probably leave, right now,” Johnny said.

  “Of course, I apologize,” Mr. Bergman said as he held the door open for Johnny and followed him outside.

  The student and teacher didn’t say anything until they got to Mr. Bergman’s car.

  “Holy shit, you have a Cobra?” Johnny said, marveling at Mr. Bergman’s 1962 Shelby Cobra. Red with a single white stripe going up its body, chrome rims, and a leather interior.

  “It’s the third one built,” Mr. Bergman said, “I don’t drive it around much, my ex-wife doesn’t know I own it. Or should I say that she doesn’t know that Neo Dynamic Industries owns it. I thought that tonight was a special occasion so I busted it out of the U-storage I’ve been hiding it in,” Mr. Bergman said as he slowly ran his hand up the car’s hood, “Some would say it was a cardinal sin to repaint it, but its mine and I like red,” Mr. Bergman smiled at Johnny.

  “I feel like there is so much more you can teach me,” Johnny said.

  “Maybe, but I think you could be so much better than me Johnny Vincent, I know talent when I see it,” Mr. Bergman smiled proudly at his star student.

  “What do you mean?” Johnny said.

  “Remember that first class we had, where I said the second you have a business worth a million dollars you sell it instantly,” Mr. Bergman said.

  “Yeah, I’m the one who said that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Johnny said.

  “That’s what most people are supposed to do. Most people, people like me, we get a million dollar payday, and we grab it as soon as we can, I think you’re destined for more Johnny. I told you that I thought you would be the best student I ever taught, and I wasn’t lying,” Mr. Bergman smiled, “Have you thought of what you’re going to Major in? You said you’re going to UCLA, right?”

  “Yeah, Anderson School of Business,” Johnny said.

  “Good program, you’ll learn a lot there, I hope you knock em’ dead Johnny Vincent,” Mr. Bergman looked up and smiled at his star student.

  “Will I? I mean, you’ve kind of been shitting on traditional education for the entire semester,” Johnny said.

  Mr. Bergman laughed, “I have done that haven’t I,” He looked down as the two made their way back to Johnny’s house, “College is important, I went to college,” Mr. Bergman said.

  “Where?” Johnny asked.

  Mr. Bergman took a deep breath, “I went to L.A. Community,” he said.

  “Really?” Johnny asked.

  “Yeah, I transferred to UCLA, let me tell you, getting into a real school straight up always looks better than someone who transfers, employers are going to like that,” Mr. Bergman said.

  “I don’t think I want employers to like it,” Johnny said, holding his hand out the car’s window.

  “What do you mean?” Mr. Bergman said.

  “I want to have my own business. I want to make money for myself, not someone else,” Johnny said, looking out the window.

  Mr. Bergman turned to Johnny and smiled.

  Mr. Bergman pulled up to Johnny’s house, “All right, here we are,” Mr. Bergman said.

  “Did you mean what you said? That I’m your star student?” Johnny asked.

  “Maybe I did teach you something, you were able to sell your stock before it caused you to suffer a severe loss, Gold star Mr. Vincent,” Mr. Bergman smiled.

  “Thank you,” Johnny said as he reached over and patted Mr. Bergman’s shoulder, “So, does this mean I’m getting an A?” Johnny asked.

  “We’ll see how finals go, but yeah, probably,” Mr. Bergman said.

  “Awesome,” Johnny said as he got out of the car.

  Mr. Bergman pulled out of the driveway and revved his engine spinning out into a quick, tight doughnut in front of his house before speeding off into the night.

  Johnny took a deep breath, he turned and looked at his house, the cops didn’t even have the decency to close his door after they ransacked the place. Thank god his parents were having a date night in town to celebrate their much-awaited return to the states.

  “Oh shit!” Johnny said as his eyes shot open, “The money!” Johnny yelled as he ran up his lawn and into his house. He charged through the door and rushed into his home. He took a left up his hallway and into his room. It was evident that multiple men have been in it, they must have checked every nook and cranny searching for pot. The question on Johnny’s mind now was, were they also searching for cash.

  Johnny flipped his mattress off his bed and reached down, flipping his box spring up. He found the tear in the bottom of it and reached inside of it. He desperately felt around, his heart beating a mile a minute as he blindly searched and searched, then his hand hit something. That feeling, the material of that unmistakable fabric, he pulled his hand out and to his relief he was clinging to a giant wad of money. He fanned it out in his hands and looked it over. Denero's finest had missed the forest for the trees. “Fuck, yes!” All Johnny could do was lean his head back, holding his money in the air triumphantly as he started to laugh and laugh and laugh.