A Place To Call Home

01. Caught

Officer Jackson was too old and too tired for this job. He had just gotten yet another call for a robber. She was last seen at McDonalds - a minor. Apparently she'd been stealing things from all around town. There wasn't a very good description for the thief. The caller had just said black, female, and something about a suitcase...

The Officer bent down and ducked into the old car. This car used to be a beauty. It worked like a wonder in its old days. Now it was old and slow. After 15 years, the Officer didn't blame the car for being tired. He sighed.

He put the key in and turned. The car grunted and muttered before sputtering alive. I know how you feel, Officer Jackson reminsced. He drove off. 

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Nikki could finally let out a sigh of relief. She was certain that she had escaped from her pursuers. For at least two blocks, she had been chased by the family at McDonalds. Now she was in a slightly unfamiliar part of Clinton. A neighborhood to be exact. She bent over and struggled to force air in and out of her lungs. She was exhausted. It felt like she would explode.

Her dark eyes swept across the quiet street. She jumped slightly when she saw a police car patrolling the streets. No no no!! She had been praying that that family had just given up. The police? There was no time for dealing with them right now. 

Gripping her suitcase handle tightly, she began to walk slowly down the sidewalk. She looked down at the littered ground. To distract herself, she kicked pieces of trash of the sidewalk and she walked. 

To more of her alarm, the car started slowly following her. Oh no... she groaned. I don't need this. As it began to catch up, she deliberatly slowed down. Maybe this car would pass her...

It didn't. Instead, the car parked and a police man walked out. She eyed him out of the corner of her eye. He looked like he was in his late 50s. That was good. It meant she had a chance to outrun him.

Honestly, Officer Jackson wasn't expecting someone so...small. In his mind, he was thinking a teenager. A big, strong brawly girl. This kid couldn't be more than 13. And why was she lugging that suitcase around? Where were her parents? Did they know that their daughter was out in the streets like this? He walked behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. 

"Excuse me," the Officer said with a sigh, "but I gotta ask you a few questions." The girl stopped in her tracks and spun around. Her face had an innoecent expression on, but her dark eyes glared fiercely at him. 

"Yeah?" she said. "Well, I'm sorry. I can't stand here all day. I got things to do." Nikki flashed her biggest smile at him.

"I got a call for a thief. The description said a minor. They also told me it was girl about your age." He paused to see how she would react.

"Really?" she feigned interest. "Well, I'll tell you if I see her." She turned around and was about to make a break for it when he caught her shoulder and she dropped her suitcase.

"Wait one second missy," he scolded. "I'm not done with you yet. I still - " Before Officer Jackson knew it, the girl had snatched up her suitcase and bolted. For someone that small and thin, she sure was fast.

"Crap!" Officer Jackson cursed and immiedietly got in his car. "I was almost fooled by that face. She sure is a good liar," he muttered. He put the key in the car and turned. Nothing. He tried again. The car coughed and sputtered and died.  "No, no, no! You can't die on me now, not now!" He glanced back at the street. "I don't think I can catch her." 

Yes, there were things the invincible Officer Jackson couldn't do anymore. He used to win soo many medals.. and now he could barely chase a 13 year old. Life sure is rough... With a big gulp of air, he start running down the sidewalk. Quickly his breaths grew short and labored. He was also...not so light on his feet anymore. This was going to be a long day. 

For a whole block now, Nikki hadn't stopped running. It was getting harder though. She had her suitcase to carry. She'd started at least 30 seconds before that man did. And she didn't have so much energy when you hadn't eat for a whole day. 

"Wait! Wait! Please!" shouted the policeman, still pounding after her. She smirked. He was obviously in no shape to catch her. But she didn't have energy left to run. Finally gave in to her exhausted body and bent over to catch her breath. After a minute, the police man came up behind her. 

After panting for minute, he finally turned to her. He was still breathing heavily and wiping his forehead. He laid a hand on Nikki's shoulder and turned her around. She terrified. Oh no...I'm really going to get it. And I was so close to finding Momma, I know it!

 "I'm...I'm not going to hurt you," said the policeman hesitantly. "I know that you probably have a good reason for... all this. All I need you to do is hand me back the 20 dollars and I can make it all work out." 

Nikki stared at him for a long, hard time. He squeamed uncomfortably, making her feel slightly triumphant. Her hand reached slowly into her pocket and brought out the bill. She stroked it. Here was her last hope of not starving to death. Her eyes were misty. She tried to swallow the hard knot in her throat but it hurt. She coughed and handed the man the money. Turning away, she started walking, her eyes on the dirty sidewalk. She was trying not to cry. I'm strong, I can do this. I'm strong... 

"Ahem." said the Officer, "I'm not done with you yet. We still haven't even talked to your family. Does your momma know that you are out here like this? What...are you trying to run away?" He chuckled. 

Nikki spun around and threw her suitcase down on the side walk. She faced the man full front. 

"Trying to run AWAY?" she yelled. "Mister, what business do you think you have? My momma - " her throat caught, "my momma...she...left me. We're homeless. We didn't have any money left." Hot, angry tears spilled down her cheek. "But she wants me back. I know it. So you know WHAT? No, my momma don't know I'm here, stealing money, trying to keep myself from starvation. I can't even find a place to sleep," her voice cracked and tears came out in full flow. 

"Oh God," Officer Jackson said. This was probably going to be the toughest case he'd had yet. 

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I hope that this was a good chapter!! Tell me what you think in the comments below. What do you think the Officer is going to do now? And poor Nikki :/ Well, comment below and VOTE but more importantly comment critisicm! Lots of Love!!! 

The Ree Alexander