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ONE

Caleb

ome people are damn lucky Unfortunately I've never been one of those people In fact, I think I'ht in the crossfire As I sit in the back of a squad car with handcuffs digging into ot arrested, alo

I'd been drinking

I asted

And I was arrested for a crime I didn't commit

Didn't ot locked in juvie for a year anyway,charges

This tis Except I didn't sest, snort, shoot up, or buy the shit Okay, I ad house It was either keep a roof overon around me, or live on the streets

I chose the roof Looking back,on the streets soundslocked up like a caged ani told when to shit, shower, shave, eat, and sleep isn't rew up, wasn't paradise either I' if paradise is just some word in the dictionary with the definition: this doesn't fucking exist

I leanhow I'et out of this I have no money, no real friends, and my familywell, I haven't had any contact with theo

When we arrive at the police station, the cop escortsshot Then the cop orders me to his desk and introduces himself as Lieutenant Ramsey

"Don't try anything stupid," he tells ht wrist and secures it to aa fifty-pound desk withanywhere

After asking me a bunch of questions, he leaves me alone I look around for Rio, one of ot busted at the same ti a crapload of uys who, if you ask me, looked like undercover cops ere just dressed up as badass gangsters I think it was the gold tooth on one of the guys that gave it away It looked like it'd been glued on and I could have sworn it became loose at one point and he sed it

That was right before they pulled out their guns and yelled for us to kneel on the ground and put our hands on our heads I'd been watching so I needed was to be involved in Rio's business

Rio had asked me to help hiet off on selling drugs to guys who're so desperate to get high they'll give et it The last tiuy with three kids He brought his three kids to our house, and when I saw their long, drawn faces and their ragged, torn clothes, I couldn't do it I refused to sell hi, especially because I know if I didn't sell it to him someone else would

"Listen, Caleb," Ramsey says as he opens up a file folder withtrouble Chicago judges aren't lenient on repeaters, especially when they're living in drug houses with over fifty thousand worth of meth and Z-tabs "

"I' "

"Just because you've got a job doesn't mean you don't deal " He picks up his phone and hands et one phone call Tell me what number to dial "

I put the receiver down on his desk "I waive ht to a call "

"Faests

I shake ot any "

Ramsey rests the handset back on the phone "Don't you want soe'll set bail later today or tomorrow You should be prepared "

When I don't respond, he flips through my file He looks up after a couple ofwas your transition counselor "

Da was supposed to ot released frouy who scaredhis scheduled visits Daned me my community service job and constantly drilledback at home He wouldn't take one-word responses or silence for an answer The guy was a hardass who didn't take shit from anyone, and whenever I fucked up he let me know I better shape up or he would be personally responsible for telling the judge to lock me back up I had no doubt that he'd do it, too

Ramsey jots a number down and sets it in front of me

"What's this?"

"Da's phone number "

"And ould I want it?" I ask him

"If you don't have faest you call him "

I shake my head and say, "No way "

Ramsey pushes the phone toward me and leans back in his chair "Call him If you don't, I will "

"Why?"

"Because I read Da about his assessments "

"What did he write?" That I was a complete fuckup who deserved to be locked up permanently?

"Why don't you call hi trouble, Caleb You need soht now "

I look at the phone and shakeme a choice I pick up the phone and dial the number

"This is Damon," a deep voice answers

I clear my throat "Ummthis is Caleb Caleb Becker "

"Why are you callin' me?"

"I kind of got in trouble," I say, then clear my throat I take a deep breath and reluctantly blurt out, "I need your help "