Free Born of War by Anderson Harp

Aqua Velva. He noticed the man’s hands as well. The nails were closely trimmed but the hands were large. It would have taken an extra, extra large pair of gloves to fit over this man’s hands.
    Every meal a plate of food. William envisioned a high school football lineman. He was the type who piled up a plate and then asked for seconds. Age would not be kind.
    â€œIf you let me make a call on your cell phone I can probably get this cleared up.” William hadn’t been in the back of a patrol car since the bar fight at the Navy Yard as a young Force Recon lieutenant. A SEAL had jumped his captain and all hell had broken loose.
    The cruiser had a cup holder on its front console, and in the cup holder was a dark, beaten-up cell phone.
    The man looked through his rearview mirror, staring through the cage like a bear ready to attack. There was silence for a moment. He acted as if the question had never been asked.
    They drove to the station in complete silence. Only the squad car’s radio interrupted the quiet. At the station, the jailer searched Parker.
    â€œDamn, look at this dude.”
    The fellow jailer and the arresting officer stared at the scar on Parker’s shoulder.
    â€œWhere did you get that?”
    Parker didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to aggravate the situation further. As they finished, another officer came into the booking room.
    â€œWe got a winner!” He held up the wad of cash that Parker had kept in the console. They were like a bunch of teenagers in the locker room after a win on the football field.
    â€œOne call?” Parker asked.
    â€œSure, time to call your momma.” The jailer laughed. “That’s your bondsman.”
    â€œThanks.”
    They didn’t understand who it was standing there. He dialed the number. Parker hoped he had the number right. Since he’d stopped carrying a cell phone, he hadn’t called Gunny in awhile.
    â€œGunny.” Parker noticed the jailer raise his head when the word was mentioned. “I‘ve been arrested in Mobile.”
    The conversation was brief.
    â€œOkay, let’s go to the holding cell.”
    Parker felt the arresting officer stare at him the entire time. It was as if rage was being barely contained. The bear’s eyes followed his every move.
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    â€œOpen it up.” The watch officer pointed to the holding cell. He was just as displeased as the arresting officer but for a much different reason. His anger was not directed at Parker.
    â€œI am sorry, sir.” The lieutenant held out his hand in an apology.
    The two other jailers looked on in shock as they sat behind their desks while all of this was going on.
    â€œWe have had a very bad week,” the lieutenant said sheepishly.
    â€œI understand,” said Parker.
    â€œWhere is all of his stuff?”
    One of the jailers held up a brown paper bag.
    â€œIs the money in there as well?”
    â€œNo, sir.”
    â€œGet it.” The jailer went to a safe behind the desk, swung the door open, and pulled out a plastic bag marked with a red strip. “Evidence” was printed on the strip. The lieutenant ripped it open and handed the stack of fifties to Parker.
    â€œYou need to count it?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œFellows, we need to delete this entire arrest.”
    Just as he said that, the arresting officer came back in the room. He stood in the rear with his back leaning against the wall. He didn’t say anything. He simply stared at Parker as Parker put everything back into his pockets.
    â€œThe arrest photo?” the senior jailer asked the question that the others in the room were thinking.
    â€œYes, everything. It all needs to be pulled. Nothing can remain in the computer.”
    â€œWhy, boss?”
    â€œNational security.”
    They all knew now where the scars came from. The two jailers were embarrassed and meekly bowed their heads.
    The room got silent.

C HAPTER T WELVE
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