Steel Disciples

CHAPTER FIVE: REVEALED

"He what?" Alex's shock was palpable. Each day tended to pass the same as the one before; in a sleep all day party all night kind of fashion. He rarely found himself having to worry or show concern for anyone, unless on the off chance that one of the group managed to get themselves in the midst of some fisticuffs. Today had been a calamity. Whilst it had started off the same as every other day--not waking up till gone eleven, and breaking out the booze at one--it had gone down hill the second Shane had taken off on his own. Shane was hardly the one to blame, though. His run ins with Kincaid were weekly at this point, although the switchblade development was unique. That should've been the first sign that something was wrong.

He'd listened to Brandi explain the situation. To hear that Shane had been arrested wasn't as much of a surprise as it probably should have been, he'd always thought that it was a matter of time for him. But to hear that Jason had also been locked up definitely was a system shock. Jason was a good kid. Maybe a little bit on the stupid side, but so was everyone else around here. Idiots, but with good intentions. He'd grown up with Marc as a role model, and there was no better man in the gang than him. Marc was always able to handle himself, always respectful of others, and it was always a wonder why he chose to hang around with a bunch of delinquent mavericks. Alex had always been under the impression that the man was fully capable of winning himself a respectable job and building a happy life and family from the ground up. Others here didn't have such a pleasure. Certainly not someone like Shane. Right now, he was certainly worried about Marc. After the death and the situation with Jason, he wondered if it might be hitting him a little close to home. He'd have to check on him when he got back, just like he'd have to explain everything to Dustin when he finally showed his face again. Dustin did this a lot; disappearing without a moment's notice, and refusing to tell anyone where he was going. Shane was the same, but everyone knew that the younger male of the group was always out hunting for a fight. Dustin could be anywhere in the world, he could return at any time he chose or didn't choose, and everyone had to live with it. And they would. The group would be nothing if not built on the foundations of trust.

"Pretty sure I overheard Roy mention something to him about his guitar. He probably went back to get it--yada yada--Shane proceeds to smack his dad with a heavy instrument." Brandi answered.

"Hey, don't slap this on me." Roy interjected loudly. He and Michelle were both sat with the other two, hand in hand, though they had both been quiet until this point.

Brandi's response was a tut and an eye roll.

Alex knew well enough that Shane's dad was not a good person. He might have pretended to be, under the disguise of a good cop, but there'd always been something off about him. They'd met, once. Maybe everyone in the group had met him. He tended to be the authority around the specific area they chose to roam. He'd let them off with warnings, and only ever take them in if they were causing trouble for other people--which was often a very rare occasion. But he had a rough personality, and Alex was sure he'd seen Dustin snap at him a number of times as though there was something that he needed to get off his chest but simply couldn't. Or wouldn't. Alex wouldn't have been surprised to hear that Shane's own father had directly contacted the authorities behind his back. Either to teach him a lesson or protect his pride, and Alex was willing to bet on the latter. It was disgusting that he felt the need to have his son arrested instead of simply having a conversation with him.

"We've gotta do something. We can't just let him rot in prison." Alex stated, although there was no chance in hell he was gonna come up with any idea past a high scale prison break.

"You do know Jason's also in prison, right?" Brandi countered as a sour expression fell over her features.

"He's only there on suspicion, they'll have to let him out by tomorrow. You said Shane basically admitted his actions in the middle of the station, and what good's his word against a cop? Against his own father?"