Nineteen year old Krissy Polk was dressed in a white t-shirt, a leather jacket, and jeans. She sat in the back room of the mall office, her face buried in her hands, her shoulder length blonde hair draping over the backs of her hands. She knew she’d fucked up big time. What had she been thinking? Now the police were on their way and she was in a world of trouble. She raised her head when she heard the door open and was surprised to see her father’s friend, Sam Calvin standing there.
“Oh my God, Mr. Calvin,” she said, a sense of relief. Maybe he would be able to resolve this without her being arrested like she had thought was going to happen.
“Krissy,” he said. “What’s going on here?”
“They told me they were calling the police on me,” she said.
“From what I understand, we were called because someone stole a bracelet from the jewelry store,” Sam said. “Krissy, that doesn’t sound like you.”
Krissy shrugged.
“Krissy, tell me you didn’t steal this bracelet.”
“It was a sorority dare,” she said. “We’ve sort of been going through this thing with escalating dares and challenges. Today I was dared to steal something from the jewelry store.”
“And you did it?”
Krissy nodded.
Sam sighed and shook his head.
“Krissy, I don’t think you realize this, but that bracelet is priced at two-thousand dollars. Which means that this isn’t just shoplifting, this is larceny. This is very serious.
Krissy shook her head in disbelief.
“Mr. Calvin, is there any way you can make this go away?”
Sam pursed his lips.
“I can try talking to the store manager, Krissy, but if they want to press charges, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Anything, Mr. Calvin. Please!”
“Wait here, Krissy. I’ll see what I can do.”
Sam left the room and walked out of the back offices and across the mall to the jewelry store. He asked to speak with the manager and explained to him the situation.
“Look,” said Sam, “she’s a good kid. She did something stupid on a dare, she was caught before getting away with the bracelet. Any chance you can just…take the bracelet back and let it be?”
“And if she does it again in the future?”
“I promise you she won’t.”
“I’m not a mean guy,” said the manager, “but I can’t have people stealing from my store. If she had gotten away with it, I get in trouble with my District Manager for allowing theft to occur.”
“I get that, sir, I do.”
“If it happens again, I’m not letting it go.”
“Nor should you,” said Sam.
“Then yes, I’ll cut her a break this time. Reluctantly, but I’ll do it.”
“I appreciate it, sir,” said Sam, handing him the bracelet.
“I do have one condition, though,” the manager added.
*** *** ***
Sam made his way back to the mall offices. Krissy was pacing the room and turned and looked at him again as he entered the room.
“Well?” she asked hopefully.
“Well,” said Sam, “the store manager wants to think it over. He said for me to call him tomorrow and he’ll let me know.”
“So, then, until he presses charges, I’m free to go?”
“Not exactly,” said Sam. “Krissy, he’s already pressed charges. Meaning, until he potentially decides to drop the charges, I need to take you into custody.”
Krissy looked at him, dumbfounded.
“Are you telling me that I’m under arrest?” she asked incredulously.
“I’m afraid so, Krissy. I need you to stand and place your hands behind your back, please.”
Krissy’s jaw dropped and she did as she was told and she felt Sam lock a pair of handcuffs around her wrists. She wondered if he was about to frisk her. She actually always been secretly attracted to her father’s friend; had a bit of a crush on him, and the idea of his hands on her in such a way was somewhat appealing to her. But she shook off that thought. She was being arrested here and could potentially be going to jail for a significant amount of time. Mr. Calvin had mentioned this being larceny. She’d watched enough cop shows to know that that was a felony.
He didn’t frisk her. But he did lead her out of the back offices and through the mall where she felt prying eyes on her from the other customers, wondering what this young woman was being arrested for. Sam led her outside and put her in the back of his police car and drove her to the police station where he sat her on a bench, still handcuffed behind her back, and went to talk to a female officer. A few moments later, the officer, a serious-faced, middle-aged redhead, came and stood beside her.
“Krissy Polk,” she said.
Krissy nodded.
“I’m Officer Felton,” she said. “I’m here to take over your processing.”
Officer Felton took her by the arm and led her to another room where she removed Krissy’s handcuffs and handed her an orange shirt and pants.
“I need you to undress down to your undergarments,” Officer Felton said. “And then place this uniform on.”
Krissy was on the verge of tears but she had no choice but to do as instructed. She took off her jacket, her tank top and her jeans and laid them on the small bench in the room. She pulled on the thin orange cotton shirt which fit loosely over her body and she buttoned it up. She then pulled on the pants. Officer Felton took her hands and handcuffed her again, though Krissy was thankful that this time they were in front of her waist rather than behind her and led her out of the room. She was walked through a large door and into a corridor of cells, a few of which were occupied. She was ushered into one of the empty ones and Officer Felton removed the cuffs from her wrists and then clanged the cell door, locking Krissy inside. Without a word, she walked away.
