Current Issue
| Volume 3, Issue 2, June 30, 2008 | |
| Riding Fourth by Margaret Yang and Harry R. Campion |
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The police station was one square room, divided into cubicles, with a reception area the size of a welcome mat. Walter peered through the tiny window in the door until someone decided he was harmless enough, or persistent enough, and buzzed him in. He stood inside, grateful for the warmth, and waited to be noticed. The officer, female and petite, looked like a high-school kid, except for the very adult weapon she wore holstered on her uniform belt. She stared at Walter's tie. "Yeah?" "I'm a fourth," Walter said. "I was picked up in Novi for a ride downtown. The occupants of the car robbed me." "How much they get?" Walter stared down at the officer. Her name was embroidered on a patch above her shirt pocket. Linden. "What difference does that make?" "Well, you know, there's robbery, and there's felonious larceny." A hundred and twenty dollars for the round trip. Enough for his wife's meds for a week plus some to chip away at the hospital bills. They owed him that much. He sighed. "They took sixty dollars, the entire morning's fee, and dumped me. I have their first names, and the last name of one of them, although that could be a fake. I have the license plate number." Linden shifted from foot to foot. "So, they didn't actually take anything of yours, they just stiffed you for the fourthing fee?" "The fee was mine!" Heads prairie-dogged above the cubicles at his outburst. A tall cop propped an elbow on the divider. "You need any help, Linden?" Linden put her hands on her hips. "Nope. I can handle him. Your name, sir?" Walter looked at the other cops, all young like Linden, although most of them much bigger. They waited, hiding smiles. Once again, Walter found himself the morning entertainment. Read the rest of the story:
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