Emma
My keys click, and my car’s engine roars to life. I sigh as I grab the steering wheel. My body and mind are exhausted after a particularly long night at work. After several outfit changes and different routines later, I’m ready to get home and sleep it off.
I pull out of the club’s parking lot and make my way to the freeway. I yawn from my tiredness. I just want to get home and pass out. Isaac’s fit earlier tonight still has me on edge. I like Isaac a lot, but I love my job dancing. I can hardly imagine giving it up.
The thoughts of not being able to be with Isaac because I enjoy my job start to inundate me. I’m hardly paying attention to the road and then- Red and blue lights flash behind me along with that recognizable chirp of a police car.
Dammit! I should’ve paid more attention to my driving… I don’t think I swerved at all though…
I flash my brakes at the officer and proceed to slow down while coming off a bridge. I come to a stop on the shoulder of the highway. My head bonks against the steering wheel in preemptive exasperation. The last thing I want today is to deal with an officer.
I just hope he’s a nice one…
The cop pulls up behind me, and after checking up on some things, steps out, and comes to my window.
A middle-aged man in a blue uniform knocks on my window. His big mustache gives him a very mall-cop look, although I know he’s the real deal. I roll the window down and politely keep my hands on my steering wheel once it’s rolled down.
“Hello ma'am, do you know why I pulled you over tonight?” He asked.
“No sir, I do not.” I reply.
“We had a tip at the station there were drugs in this vehicle. Do you have any drugs in this vehicle ma’am?”
I’m stunned for a moment.
“Drugs?” I ask
“Yes ma’am, drugs.”
“N-no officer, I don’t do drugs, or have them in my car-”
“I’m sorry ma’am, but I’m going to need to search your vehicle regardless. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
I sigh.
“Alright officer, I have nothing to hide so I don’t mind.”
“Please step out of the vehicle ma’am.”
I do as I’m instructed, and calmly step out. It’s annoying to be sure, but only a small inconvenience. I don’t have any drugs, and I don’t see a reason for there to be any in my car. As I step out, I notice in the officer’s hand is a leash, and an adorable German shepherd attached to the end of it.
The dog looks up at me and cocks its head, before climbing in the backdoor the officer opens. The big fluffy dog sniffs around, thoroughly sticking its snout into every crevice it can. Something about the situation gives me anxiety, even though logically, I have nothing to fear. Awaiting the verdict of the drug dog, I make conversation with the officer.
“Where did the tip about drugs in my car come from?” I ask.
“An anonymous source. Didn’t say who they were, but we take tips like this seriously to keep the community safe.”
“I completely understand. I just think it’s super strange.”
The cop shrugs and soon after, the police dog hops out of the car, shaking its scruffy fur, and resuming its professional posture.
“Well ma’am, it seems this was a false tip. Guess someone was just trying to give you a hard time. Thank you for your cooperation. Let me get your license and registration so I can mark this all down.”
I nod and hop into the front seat of my car. First I pop the glove-box open and fetch my registration, and quickly grab my wallet from my purse. Somehow, my license is missing. I frantically dig through the rest of my purse looking for it but come up empty.
“I’m sorry officer, it seems I’m missing my license, I have one, but it’s not in my wallet and I’m not sure why,” I say, handing him the registration.
The man takes my registration and squints at it, then squints at me.