Free yolo by Sam Jones Page B

hissed Brandon. “We are so dead .”
    Ana groaned and laid her head against the dashboard. “Go ahead,” she muttered. “Say ‘I told you so.’ ”
    Emily didn’t say a word. The officer was walking back toward the car.
    â€œStep out of the car, please,” he said sternly. “All of you.”
    â€œShould I bring the dog?” whispered Ana. Emily shot her a glance that said no in a very clear way, and unbuckled her seat belt. She’d never worn handcuffs before. She wondered what it would be like.
    Once they were all standing on the shoulder of the road, Pickles began to bark incessantly inside Emily’s car, and the officer introduced himself.
    â€œI’m Sheriff Bud,” he said. “I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
    Emily nodded.
    â€œWhere are you kids headed?”
    â€œTo a party.” Ana blurted out.
    â€œThat right?” Sheriff Bud asked Emily.
    Emily nodded.
    â€œAnd did you stop for lunch today?”
    â€œYes! Yessir, we did.” Brandon was practically panting. “We stopped for lunch at Rick’s Diner and boy, oh, boy was it delicious, just the best food I’ve ever eaten for lunch. That Strawberry Tsunami they serve is just out of this world! Dyn-o-mite!” Emily looked up at Brandon, who was acting like he was on speed. She frowned at him, trying to silently telegraph that Bud was asking her the questions, so she should answer. Brandon and Ana were not helping by jumping in and trying to answer for her. It was coming across like they had something to hide.
    After his soliloquy on the joys of Rick’s Diner, Emily was sure that Brandon was going to get them all hauled in for questioning. Bud eyed Brandon and Ana, who kept fidgeting and clearing their throats and coughing. Finally, he turned back to Emily.
    â€œI pulled you over because your license plate got sent through the system this afternoon. A couple of local idiots held Rick’s up, and the owner of the diner said they escaped in your car.” Bud looked from Emily to Ana, then over to Brandon. “Is that right?”
    Emily waited for Ana and Brandon to jump in and spill the whole story, but both of them froze and stared at their feet. Emily looked at Brandon on her left, who shrugged, and Ana on her right, who ran a hand through her hair and suddenly acted as if her shoes were the most fascinating things she had ever laid eyes on.
    Emily looked back at Bud and nodded. “Yes, sir. They did get away in our car.” Brandon and Ana both turned and stared at her, their mouths hanging open. “But not because we wanted them to,” Emily continued. “They had guns.”
    â€œYou were eating in the diner when they came in?” Bud asked.
    â€œYes, sir,” said Emily. “They grabbed the cash from the register and took us hostage for a little while.”
    â€œDid they hurt you?” Bud asked.
    â€œNo,” said Emily. “Just scared us. They wanted to be dropped off, so we dropped them off.”
    â€œWhere’d you do that?” asked Bud.
    â€œAt the Arco back at the last exit,” said Emily.
    â€œAnd you didn’t think to call the police?” asked Bud.
    â€œWell, I was just so shaken up,” said Emily. “Plus, I didn’t want to be accused of helping them rob the diner.”
    â€œI would’ve called, but one of them broke my phone,” blurted Ana.
    â€œI’m sorry to hear that,” said Bud. “You all are lucky you got away from those morons when you did.”
    â€œYou know who it was?” asked Brandon.
    â€œYeah, it’s this couple of crazies used to go to high school not far from here. Hooked up back then and fancy themselves a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde.” Bud lifted his hat and ran his hand through his thinning hair. “Course they never get away with much, but that wouldn’t stop the prosecutor from pressing charges.