A clipboard and pen were shoved at me before I could register her words, and someone else stepped up to the desk.
"Um, no, actually, sorry, that wasn't what I meant. See, I got a call, and I'm looking for a teen."
Rolling her eyes, she grabbed the clipboard back from me and replaced it with another one, and pointed to a bench for me to sit on.
"Next," she bellowed, clearly done with me.
My earlier assumption hadn't worked out for me, but at least I made a little progress. Inspecting the seat, I brushed it off before I sat down on the hard plastic chair. It was glued to another, so the homeless man who sat next to me was able to offer me his very fragrant aroma as a welcoming gift.
Smiling at him, he gave me a big toothy grin before he went back to picking at something in his hand. I wasn't curious enough to ask, afraid I'd be scarred for life if I did. Crossing my leg, I propped the clipboard on my thigh and began to fill in the form. However, I couldn't get very far because I didn't know much of the info.
Name:Jude Franklin
DOB:unknown- age 17
SSN:unknown
Address:unknown
As I kept going down the form, I could only fill in a few more blanks. Well, this wasn't helpful. Sighing, I signed the bottom before rerunning the clipboard back to the very accommodating desk lady. Her return glower mirrored the feelings I held for her as well. When I turned back around, the homeless man had taken over my spot and was now sleeping in both of the chairs.
Exhaustion filled me as I tried to find space against the wall hoping it would hold up my tired body. Using some hand sanitizer, I wanted to cleanse myself from the despair that lingered in the air here. The person next to me looked at me oddly as the antibacterial smell permeated the air. Tilting the bottle toward them, I offered them some. They looked at me curiously, trying to figure out my game, but eventually, the woman accepted slowly as she placed her hand out for me to squeeze some into.
Following her example, I moved slowly and dipped the bottle down to her, realizing how skittish these folks were. I guess if you had to spend time in a police station, you naturally became that way. Once I squeezed it out, I found she'd relaxed and even smiled a thanks to me at the gesture. Nodding, I deposited it back in my bag and braced myself against the wall for my long wait. I was under no pretense that the happy desk lady would get to me any time soon. I only hoped Jude was okay.
My eyes must've closed because what felt like only a second later, I jumped, opening them when my name was called out.
"Hey, spitfire. You okay?"
Blinking at the sexy man, I nodded, my mind starting to run away with ideas. The sounds of the police station filtered through, reminding me now was not the time to fall into his crystal blue eyes.
"Umm, yeah. They haven't told me anything yet. They haven't been helpful at all, actually."
Sax growled a little before kissing me on the cheek and striding up to the grumpy lady. I decided to call her how she was, no longer feeling like giving her a pass. Not unsurprisingly, the bitchy lady—okay, now I was just bitter—started fawning over herself to help Sax. Not that I could blame her, but still. The lady next to me elbowed me before leaning in.
"Where do you get one of those? Does he have a brother?"
Smiling, I looked over to her. "I'm afraid he's one of a kind."
"Damn." She returned my grin, becoming a co-conspirator with me.
"Yeah, damn." I giggled back. It helped lift some of the sadness I'd fallen into.
"You here for a kid?" Her question was kind, and it seemed she felt more trusting of me now.
"Yeah, he called, but he didn't give me much info."
"Ah, yeah. They only get a few minutes to call someone, and they don't want to say too much since the other side is listening in, you know."
"Oh, yeah. I guess that makes sense."
"First time?"
"Yeah, does it show?"
"Just a little," she grinned, "but hopefully, your only one. Especially if he has anything to do about it."
She nudged me, and I found Sax was no longer alone upfront. Atticus was there talking to a well-dressed man as Sax stood back, arms crossed. His demeanor reminded me of a bodyguard in a sense, and the puzzle of who they were became even more complex.