Set Fire To The Rain• Cesar Diaz

Six

3rd person pov

"Hey" Ruby said grabbing his phone out of his pocket and looking away from Spooky

"Hey, where are you?" Cesar asked letting out a breath, "Im on my way"

"Dont come" Cesar spoke, "Cesar" one of the cops called as Cesar sighed, "ill fill you in later" he said before hanging up going over behind Lana who was sitting in the chair across the cop

"Did you just burp in my face?" Lana asked looking at the cop in disgust, "Sorry, hangover" he said waving her off

"So before i get into this bag, I'm gonna give you the opportunity to tell me what's in it"

"I plead the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and anything else!"

"Really?" he asked looking at her

"Whats your name?" he added as she looked back at the three, "Hey!" he called out as she looked at him wide eyed

"Lana" she spoke, "Is that your government name?" he asked as she rolled her eyes, "Luella" she whispered

"What was that?" he asked leaning closer as she sighed, "Luella"

"Oh! Luella" he said glancing at Cesar, "Ma'am?" he asked looking at Monse as she came over standing behind Lana, "Whats your name?"

"Monse"

"do you know the kid with no pants?"

"I plead the Fifth!" she said going on her phone, "What are you doing?" he asked looking at her confused

"CYA, cover your ass, which is something Jamal should've been doing without my hoodie" she shrugged

"So you do know him? Great. Jamal, get over here" He smiled waving him over, "I plead the Fifth, the Eight and the Black" he said right away

"The Black?"

"Yeah. Everybody knows you guys have a quota. And I'm-- I'm more than a number, a stat, a notch on your belt!" He said as the cop rolled his eyes, "Make sure you're getting all this, ok?" he whispered looking at Monse, the cop sighed before getting up and leaving

"You know, snitches dont get riches" Jamal said looking at Monse, "You should've just shown us the money" Cesar said looking at Jamal

"You should of left it alone" Lana said glaring at her boyfriend, they all turned when someone cleared their throat, Jasmin.

"My, my, my! What do we have here?" Jasmin asked scooting her chair over to the desk

"What are you doing here?" Monse asked looking at her, "Girl, stop playing. Like you dont know"

"Girl, we dont know" Lana said pursing her lips, as Jasmine smiled before pointing at the badge on her shirt, "The Explorer program. I'm third gen. Law enforcement is in my blood, along with glitter and dreams. So let me guess, ya'll want a recommendation to join, right?" Jasmin smiled

"Yeah, you got us" Monse smiled sarcastically as Jasmin squealed, "Am i detective material or what?"

"Can i ask you something, Jas?" Lana asked leaning up in her seat, "Evidence. Apply to work in Evidence. Good shit goes missing.... all the time"

"Uh, so.. is Office Hammel a good cop or bad cop?" she asked quickly, "He's a sad cop. With a temper."

"A sad cop?" Cesar asked as Jasmin shrugged, "I cant get into it. I dont wanna betray the shield........ Off the record, homeboy was stepping out on his home girl Ellen in Evidence,  with Miss-He-Put-A-Ring-On-It Eileen"

"So he's cheating on his wife?" Jamal asked as Jamin rolled her eyes, "No, he was cheating on his new ex girlfriend with his old ex-wife. Jamal, you got to keep up if you want to be a Explorer. Anyways, it is all good because Ellen is mah gurl. And the last thing she needs is some more drama from Senor Mad Moustache" she explained before looking over as she heard a door close

Jasmin hurriedly stood up, "... which is exactly why being an Explorer should not be taken lightly! Because every time i wear this badge, I represent a legacy of fine men and women, like Office Hammel here. They're all yours" she smiled as he passed her empty water bottle to her

"Okay. My patience is wearing thin. So I need to know right now what its in the goddamn bag?" he asked aggressively grabbing the bag as Jamal jumped, "Okay, okay, okay. Ill tell you. Its $200,00. Its the RollerWorld loot. I found it. No one, but Lana, thought i could, but i did. Now im here, which i wasn't." he said quickly

"Kid.. if you keep BSing me, I will make that quota. I'm trying to do you a favor. Now, what's in the bag?"

"Officer, what is with all the hostility?" Lana frowned, "You look like you're about to pop a vein" Monse added

"I do? Shit! Gimme a minute" he sniffled as the four looked at each other, "I'm working through some issues"

"Hell, this is getting good" Jamal smiled grabbing some snacks from his pocket as Monse cleared her throat, "We get it. You have a hard job to do. But honestly, you dont need to give yourself a heart attack. For the sake of your family, please, dont take that anger home"

"Thats what Ellen says.... when shes not riding me about something"

"Maybe shes riding you because she cares about you. And maybe you should appreciate her concern" Lana shrugged, "I do. I do appreciate it. I just feel-"

"Smothered?" Cesar asked as Lana glanced at him, "Totally, she wants me to move in, but im not ready. And that's why i snapped at her. I dont know" he said as he began to zip and unzip the bag, the four moved their head along with each movement

"All I'm trying to do is figure my shit out" he shouted

"Maybe if you let her in a bit more, she'd let you do that" Monse shrugged glancing at Cesar

"That's what my ex-wife said" he sighed, "Ellen!"

"No. Eileen" he said as Jamal cursed in his head, "Still, there's something that's... holding me back" he said before opening the bag as he stopped talking and looked in the bag

The four looked at him worriedly, "What? What is it?" Jamal asked

"Money"

"Are you gonna keep it?"

"I wish. But its California and she gets half" he said as Jamal let out a breath, "My divorce cost me a fortune.. which is why im scared to totally commit. I dont want it to happen again" he sighed beofre hitting the table, "How could i miss what was right in front of me?" he said hitting the table with each world slowly opening the bag more and more

"Just, uh... Hey, listen. Um, remember last year when you helped me out with my shit? Let me help you out this time. You need to go to her. Now"

"Now?" he asked as Lana stood up, "If not now, when? If not you, who? Dont walk, run! Show her you're the man she knows you can be! Go! Go! Go!" she yelled as he ran off and Cesar leaned over grabbing the bag

"Now, lets go, go, go"