Shadow Of The Truth - 3. Chapter 3

“So, can you guys at least tell me where we are heading?” I asked impatiently as I sat on the curb. Neither officer even attempted to listen to me, let alone answer the question. Sensing an opportunity, I slowly stood up.

“Fuck you, pigs!” I yelled as I ran down the roadway. The second Jimmy ran off, I would comply, but I would create hell up until he disappears. Footsteps were not far behind, but I continued running .

I already deduced that these particular men did not like me much after being face planted into the pavement, but I had to make sure Jimmy got the hell out of there. The minute I seen his gaze search towards the city, I fought with everything I had.

“Oink, Oink bitches!” I said again as I regained my footing and ran. I kicked cars to create a scene, only making matters worse. The second Jimmy disappeared, I would comply, but I would create hell until he was safe. With the handcuffs digging into my wrists, I was tempted to surrender, but I would rather them chase me than Jimmy.

The shouts behind me forced my brain to focus on my balance rather than my panic. Running in cuffs proved to be a challenge as I crossed block after block. Every curb served as a speed bump, and dodging old women on the sidewalk almost proved to be dangerous. When I finally tripped up and bit the pavement, the police were long gone. Ignoring the blood running down my chin, I stood and regained my bearings. With dusk approaching, I barely had a chance to greet the city, let alone find a place to hide out.

I could not be caught in a city this size, so I walked along Lincolnwood Boulevard acting as if I owned the city. That wasn’t easy considering the shiny cuffs pinning my hands behind my back. Luckily people in this area didn’t seem to care what was going on around them.

“Dude, you running from the popos or somethin’?” came a voice from an alley. “I’m chill, just come here for a sec.” he reassured me.

Looking at the guy I immediately thought 'hobo', but even a bum might just help me out in a pinch. Throwing caution to the wind, I walked over to the dirt smeared teen hoping he could get these damn bracelets off my wrists.

“Hey bro, you look like you’re in some trouble. Come up to my apartment and hide out for a few, ‘kay?”, he suggested. Without waiting for an answer, he pushed me by the shoulder to a set of metal stairs in the rear of a tall building.

“Shit, dude. I don’t know how I’m gonna get you up the ladder to get up the fire escape.” The mystery man stood back and seemed to assess the situation. “Sit on your ass, and we’ll try to pull your hands over your feet and get them in front.”
I cried out as my shoulders felt like they were being ripped from their sockets. With a bit of yoga posing and plenty of pain, my hands were finally in front of my belly. I still didn’t understand how I could climb the fifteen foot ladder, even like this.

“You’re gonna have to trust me, guy. You start up, and I’ll cradle you going up. If we go in the front, people will see ya. Just don’t be afraid to fall against me going up to the next rung,” he said. Surprisingly, I wasn’t scared to trust the stranger as I took step on the first bar of the ladder. As soon as I began, I felt him enclose my body with his own. As uncomfortable as I should have been, I was unquestioning and calm. Conversation was short as we struggled, but at least I caught a name. “Max, dude. Just call me Max.”

After tackling the ladder, the rest of the ascent was no problem. By the time Max stopped and opened a window to what I hoped was his apartment, I was completely winded. They do not make buildings this tall where I am from. Before I even attempted to crawl through the window, I had to catch my breath and sooth the stitch in my side.

“You comin’ bro?” Max said, looking around at the few people below us impatiently.

Giving in, I dove head first through the window into a bare-walled bedroom. Max seemingly lived as I did back home. I could only pray that did not include his own version of Jack. Hearing voices down the short hallway made me nervous. I could only pray that the people I met would be decent.

“Hey, I think my buddy can get these off of ya. Let’s go out to the living room so our resident Houdini can work his magic.” I couldn’t help but cringe at the thought of having a crowd of people see me stuck in cuffs, but I didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

Walking into the front of the apartment, I was met with at least ten separate sneers, gazes, and frowns as the room fell silent. I couldn’t figure out why until I heard a familiar voice pipe up.

“You had to bring this asshole back here after he tried to take my head off only hours ago?” I wanted to run the minute I spotted him, but I was surrounded. “So, dude, are you gonna give me my fucking cash back or what?”

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All eyes were on me as I shrank back towards the wall knowing my life was about to end. Apparently I pissed off Karma somehow and it’s biting me in the ass. Never in my life have I had this run of luck, good or bad.

"Was it because I tried to kill Jack?", I thought to myself, "Certainly, God cannot be this evil."

“Hey, dude… It’s easy. Got my money, or not?” This slightly bruised guy asked me as he stood up cornering me.

“I’ll make you a deal. Unlock me, and you can do whatever. Your money is in my damn pocket, but seriously. I’ve had a bad enough day. First you assholes try to go after my friend after my father tried to bust our skulls, and then I get caught with like a ton of fucking coke in the car. I don’t need any more shit; I just need these cuffs off!” I said a little more panicked than I wanted.

“Max, this asshole better be legit, or I’m taking it out on you!” the dude said as he yanked something out of a brunettes chick’s hair and came back over to me. “I’m letting you out, but I’m warning you now, if you run from us, something like removing handcuffs is the last of your worries.”

I shook while he attempted to thwart the handcuff’s lock. My entire existence was in the hands of a guy that I previously beat down and robbed. Jimmie’s disapproval at my actions makes much more sense now. Shaking my head in disgust, I could only bite my tongue until I was free from my bonds.

“There you go, you’re free. Where is my fucking cash?” Without wasting time, my new rival held his hand out expectantly.

“Um…. Hold on,” I said as I prayed the cops did not strip me of the cash I stole. Fondling my pockets, I found the wad of cash in my back pocket and said a silent prayer. “Here, it’s all here bro!” Shoving every dollar I had in my pocket at him, I backed off and prepared myself for a fight.

“I don’t care, dude. You’re not the first one to throw a fist. Ballsy move taking my cash, though. I did not see that coming and I’ve lived here for years. You might have some use around here Killer.” He thumped my shoulder, and I could only take that as a sign of acceptance in this rag-tag group of people.

“So, um, thanks and all. I didn’t catch your name.” Somehow I felt it would be less awkward if I knew ‘Houdini’s’ name. We have history after all.

“Omri. Most of my friends call me 'Cowboy' though.” He answered with a smirk. “Don’t be so nervous, though. I will not murder you in your sleep. I figure you are not from around here, so I’ll let it be. Punch me again, though, you are gonna see the bottom of the lake in a hurry. Ya’ feel me?”

“Hey, man, no offense, but you were being a prick.” I said. “We rolled into town, and we didn’t know where to go. You idiots stopped us from a meal. I can’t even find the other kid you called a ‘fag.’ I might be able to make it through a homeless Chicago night, but he is screwed.” I couldn’t help but wonder what happened to the second half of my party. Jimmy is out there wandering around by himself.

I made him think, because his eyes hit the floor and he made his way back over to the couch as Max pushed at my shoulder again, directing me towards the kitchen. He was obviously trying to defuse the situation, but a look of concern clouded his face.

“Your friend, he’s still out on the streets? Does he have a phone?” Max asked.

“No, neither of us do. The most I have to track him down is a trucker’s phone number that we got along the way.

“Don’t worry, dude. You seem smart. The city isn’t nearly as big as you think it is. We can find him” Max reassured me as I realized the repercussions of me and Jimmy’s actions. “Do me a favor, you look like the walking dead. Go in my room and pass out for a while. I’ll talk to the guys and we’ll find your friend if we can, okay?”

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Wood splintering woke me up, throwing me from my comfy slumber. Looking around the room made it obvious I was still in Max’s bedroom. Hearing the word “Warrant” got my ass moving. Throwing the window up as far as I could, I jumped onto the fire escape and leapt down the metal stairs. Hanging off the top rung of the ladder at the bottom, I let go and ran like hell down the alley.

“Stop, kid!” I wasn’t going to obey until I realized everywhere I looked cops pointed their firearms in my direction. Following their direction, I first knelt, and then laid stomach first with my hands behind my head. The checker hat on the man’s head shook as he kicked my ribs. Why add insult to injury? Closing my eyes, I curled into a ball and awaited my fate.

The backseat of the cop car was an adventure in itself. Weaving sixty miles an hour through city traffic is never fun, especially when a used condom that lies on the backseat inches ever closer every time the police dude takes a left turn. Who screws in a cop car anyway? It’s bad enough my new personal driver is singing to Lynard Skynard like he is from the south, but the overwhelming smell of vomit and his partner’s slurs made me want to get to the jail as soon as possible.