Brad watched him go, feeling light-headed and dazed. He had never been in trouble with the law before, had never been guilty of anything except a parking ticket. For a moment he forgot his knowledge of California criminal law from law school. He was in private practice in family law, and hadn't been keeping up on criminal law much since getting his law degree. Surely this had to be some kind of mistake. His heart hammered in his chest as he watched the cop go back to his squad car and slide behind the wheel.
Lisa turned to Brad as he watched the cop type his information on the computer in his car. "'this is fucking bullshit! That asshole is just trying to fuck with us. We should be the one calling the cops on his ass to make a citizen's arrest!" Lisa had turned from a confused, scared woman to a woman with seething, righteous anger. When Lisa got angry, she got explosive and cursed like a sailor. And when she got explosive, you didn't want to be around her.
"1 didn't do anything," Brad said, still in a daze. "1-1-" He didn't know what to say.
"No shit, we didn't do anything." Lisa fumed. "And when that asshole cop comes back, I'm going to demand a citizen's arrest on that asshole in the van."
Hearing the venom in Lisa's voice injected some in Brad's own system, although now that he was thinking about it he realized that Lisa wouldn't be able to do that. It was all coming to him now: To assist in a citizen's arrest, the officer had to confirm that the violation in question was a felony punishable by at least a year in jail. If the guy was claiming speeding and reckless driving with intent to cause bodily injury, that would be enough for the officer to place him in custody. Lisa couldn't do a damn thing except represent him in court Monday. His stomach still churned, but he felt a sudden burst of adrenaline. "Let's see what that guy tells him," he said, watching the cop in his rearview mirror and the van parked behind it, its windshield a solid black screen.
"You're not going to jail," Lisa said, watching the scene from her side mirror. "I'm going to tell him I want to place a citizen's arrest myself. The guy in the van was stalking us and tailgating us. If that asshole wants to play at this game, that's just fine with me."
Brad's mind was racing. Worst-case scenario, maybe Lisa could contact a local judge over the weekend, get him to look at the case. Maybe we can get this dismissed by tonight. Yeah, that's the ticket-
"He's going to talk to the guy in the van now," Lisa said, watching from the sideview mirror. Brad watched from the rearview mirror. The cop stood at the passenger side of the van as he talked to the guy, who was still hard to make out due to the dark windshield. They were silent as they watched the conversation take place. What is he telling him? Brad wondered. What are they discussing? The few minutes that the cop spent talking to the faceless driver in the van felt like five hours.
Finally, the cop headed back to their car. Brad felt his gut tighten as the cop drew abreast of the Lexus, placing the driver's license in his breast pocket. His right hand went down to the grip of his firearm. "Would you please step out of the car, ma'am?"
Lisa cast a fearful, wide-eyed glance back at Brad. The cop leaned forward, looking directly at Brad. And would you please place your hands on the steering wheel so I can see them, Mr. Miller?"
I can't believe this is happening, Brad thought as he put his hands on the steering wheel. His heart was racing madly. I can't believe this fucking asshole is doing this!
Lisa stepped out of the Lexus. "I would like to make a citizen's arrest of my own, officer-"
"Shut up."'Ihe officer leaned toward the open passenger side of the car. Speaking directly to Brad, he said: "I want you to open the driver's-side door with your left hand, keeping your right hand on the steering wheel where I can see it.'
"Did you hear what I just said?" Lisa's tone of voice was taking on that righteous pissed-off anger that it tended to get when she was ignored. "1 said-"
"I'm telling you to shut up now, or I'll be taking two people to the Ventura County Jail today." The cop glared at her, then turned back to Brad, the subject of Lisa's interruption dismissed as he tended to the arrest at hand. "Now I want you to step out of the car carefully with your hands over your head where I can see them."
Brad did what the officer told him, the adrenaline pounding in his veins. Lisa stood at the side of the road in shock. When he got out of the car, he saw the officer standing on the other side of the vehicle, his mirror shades black and menacing. Lisa looked helpless and angry. "Put your hands on your head and walk around the front of the vehicle and come toward me."
Brad put his hands on his head and walked around the front of the Lexus on wobbly legs. When his feet reached the side of the road, the officer stepped forward. "Turn around."
Brad turned around and the officer grabbed his wrists, jerking them behind his back. He felt the cold snap of steel around his wrists as he was handcuffed. "Now I want you to sit down while I go and get the person that issued the compliant. Stay here." He helped Brad to a sitting position on the ground, then walked back toward the van.
Lisa knelt down beside him. "Everything will be okay. When we get to the police station, I'll call contact the District Attorney of Ventura County. We'll get this taken care of."
Brad felt a lump in his throat; he felt like crying, but not out.of fear. He felt a sudden outpouring of blinding, white-hot rage. "Call Billy, too." William Greckd was a friend of Brad's family and a criminal defense lawyer in Orange County. He was a brilliant, if annoying, criminal defense attorney. He was brilliant because he had a knack for getting some of the most repugnant people off with little more than a slap on the wrist. He was annoying because he was an alcoholic, one who was a pain in the ass to be around when he drank.
"I want to kill that fucking sonofabitch," Lisa said, her voice trembling. Tears appeared at the corner of her eyes, but her voice carried a tone of anger and loss of their weekend together being suddenly destroyed.
"Just be calm," Brad said. "We don't need you in jail this weekend, too. I need you to be calm to get us out of this, okay?"
"1 love you," Lisa said. She kissed him quickly, and then the sound of approaching footsteps caused them both to look up as twin shadows fell across them.
The man standing next to the officer was of medium height, but overweight with a huge belly. He had sandy hair that was balding at the top and a scruffy, sandy beard. He was wearing a T-shirt with the word Hawaii on it in a tropical design, and a pair of faded blue jeans and white tennis shoes. He was wearing sunglasses. He grinned wide.
The officer looked at the driver of the van, then nodded down at Brad. "Okay, you can go ahead."
The man took a step forward, grinning at Brad. "I'm placing you under citizen's arrest for reckless driving, asshole. That'll teach you to fucking pull in front of people on the highway."
Lisa shot to her feet. "This man is lying, Officer. He's been harassing us ever since we pulled out of the last rest stop outside of Ventura. He's been tailgating us and-"
"1 don't want to hear it: the cop said. He reached down and pulled Brad to his feet, his hard callused fingers digging into the flesh of Brad's upper right arm. "And I ain't letting you make a cross-complaint, because this gentleman witnessed you make several felony driving violations. Your only recourse is in court when your husband goes up for trial. If the case is dismissed or he's found not guilty, then you can seek civil recourse against Mr. Smith, here."
Brad glared at the man the officer referred to as Mr. Smith, who smiled back at him. That smile seemed to say I got you, you stupid luck. Teach you to fuck with me.
"I hope you have deep pockets, Mr. Smith," Lisa said, nearly spitting the words out. "You've picked the wrong people to fuck with; my husband and I are both lawyers, and when this is over we are going to sue you so fucking bad you won't be able to find a shopping cart to live in!"