Heart over Brain

Part 22

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Sure. Let's get out of here. Max says it like we are sitting together in a bar and not a holding cell in a police station and he intends to take me home with him instead of – I don't know what he plans to do.

He rises from the bench, casually, walks up to the iron bars and peers outside, left and right, into the hallway. The guard standing in front of the cell turns and gives Max an annoyed glance. "Don't make any trouble."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

I snort. Just by the way Max says it, it's obvious he is up to no good. The arrogant spark shines in his eyes.

"Say, Frank," Max says with a glance on the man's badge like they are the oldest friends, "how much would it take for you to let us out? A Million? Two?"

The guard, Frank, apparently, rolls his eyes and turns back to staring ahead.

"Like, seriously, I bet you are married, thinking about kids. Do you know how much a proper education costs these days? I could take care of that for you."

"Stop spouting nonsense," Officer Stark cuts in. The policewoman appears in the corridor. "Go take a break," she offers her co-worker, and he gladly takes her up on the offer. "You have no idea what anything costs. To you money are just numbers," she directs at Max with a warning glance.

He huffs annoyed. "To be fair, most money is just numbers. One 0 here, a few more there, add a 1 in front." He smirks.

"Exactly. You have no concept of the reality of it anymore."

"You just take it too serious."

I hold my breath while they jab at each other. They seem too friendly with each other to be police and criminal. Unreasonable jealousy stings my heart.

"Can I go now?" Max concludes. "We both know you have nothing that sticks."

"I have a picture of you in a stolen car and an officer with a bad headache. Not to mention her." The police woman nods to me. "You are not getting out this time. You should have kept to what you are good at." She focuses on me. "If you testify as witness, we will drop the charges against you."

The woman stares at me intensely.

Max turns to me and stares me down too, for once he looks like close to a heart attack. Like he hasn't considered such a scenario.

Well, neither have I. I assumed I was done for, over and out, no chance. I would have never guessed such situations really happen. I would have also never guessed I'd get charged in the first place, though.

Do I consider it? My heart rebels but my brain does, yes, because it is the logical thing to do. Cut my ties with Max, get him back in prison where he belongs and can't hurt me anymore.

But as I look at him, at his face he tries to keep straight but fails miserably, at his hands that clench to fists helplessly, at his shoulders that tens a bit more with every second –

Even my brain knows it's not an option.

"I – ah – No."

Max finally breathes out again.

The policewoman's face darkens. "Well, there you go," she grumbles.

Max catches himself, he throws the woman a smile I don't understand.

He grabs her by the collar too quickly, pulls, and smashes her head against the bars. She drops lifelessly to the floor. He kneels, pulls out a key from her pocket and unlocks the cell door with it. "What you staring at?" he says over his shoulder. "Move!"