Chapter Sixteen: Where's the Get Out of Jail Free Card?

Glen had drove south on Elizabeth Road, a road that started in Mount Clemens and curved to Hall Road to see its end. From State Route 97, which is known best as Groesbeck Highway, to Hall, the road presented industrial buildings, a fire station, some condos and the tallest building in Macomb County minus the ones in Mt. Clemens, home of Tommy and Patrick, The Macomb County Jail.

            Glen passed a side road that had a few county buildings off to the side and his Ford Focus had entered the parking lot of the twelve-story Jail build of brick with barb-wire bordering the small connected building up front. He found a spot and parked. He wore just a light Dickie’s coat while the brutal Michigan wind hitting him, despite the unusual warmth during this time in November. He walked towards the entrance and passed by a female with too much make-up and eyeliner on, pouring on a disdain stare from hell. He moved on, thinking that the woman was perhaps a prostitute or escort. Macomb County with over 800,000 people within the boundary lines had its crime. The murder rate wasn’t alarming but with many local news articles stating that the jail is often filled to capacity with lesser offenders getting the easy way out with just a booking, one could tell that bullshit does happen in a white-predominate neighborhood, despite how the local news is all over crime in Detroit, which was a part of Wayne County, Macomb’s southern neighbor.

            Glen entered the jail, it had its waiting area with a rather seating area for people looking to bail out people. The walls had plaques of officers worthy of mention, including previous and high-ranking officers, not to mention the sheriff himself. The jailer desk was protected by bulletproof glass, and a male officer behind it with a Mac computer. Glen headed towards the desk, with hearing footsteps behind him that irked him for some reason. He slowed his pace and turned around, there she was: Colleen Warnock, dressed in tight black jeans and a leather coat with a green silk blouse under it.

“What are you doing here?” she said ruthlessly.
Glen chuckled a little while directing her to the front of the jail waiting area where no one was present, “I seem to be the responsible party to the reason why your son is here. Did he call you too?”

She didn’t reply.

“Stupid question, I take it as he got a second call.”

“So, are you looking to bail him out? I already did.”

“No, I’m…”

Colleen interrupted, “then what are you doing here?”

Glen paused for a moment with the sarcastic smile enacted, “Whoa, I don’t know what else is going on with your life, but I’m bailing out a friend. Is everything okay?”

Her eyes widen.

“You’re scaring me.” he said.

“So, where is my other son and daughter? Are they here with you?”

“No, they are at my house.”

She walked to Glen, but next around him, “Hmm, too bad, he made me angry during Thanksgiving, you know.”

Glen shook his head with a sarcastic laugh, “What the hell could Jimbo have done that is worse than Todd? Jim does not sell drugs, he is just a confused person trying to make things work. And you are not doing it any good when you keep him down while allowing Todd to do what he pleases and you bail him out when he screws up. And another thing too, I hope you understand that I had nothing to do with Todd getting caught, as he accuses me of this.”

She suddenly did a 180 with her blond hair floating in the air temporary, “Wait, you don’t tell me how to raise my kids.”

“You don’t need to be raising them anymore, they are all adults. And stop telling Jim that he can’t have a better job, he needs that.”

“He can barely do the job right at Harbor, why are you telling me how to do things. I’m sick of this, you keep telling me how to do things and acting like an asshole!” Colleen said.

“Watch your mouth.” said the officer behind the glass.

Colleen regarded it and said to Glen, “You just don’t care.”

Glen shook his head, “Don’t go there. It’s not that I don’t care, it’s that I see things going in the wrong direction. Just let me point Jim and Jasmine in the right direction, let me have control.”

“I gave Sheila to you, look at what direction you put her in.” Colleen said with the wide eyes back.

Glen backed away, dropping that sarcastic smile, “Whoa, that was harsh.”

She looked on with that frown and wide eyes.

“Colleen, seriously, what happened? Please tell me what happened to you to make you be a cold-hearted bitch?”

She didn’t reply.

“I know it happened before Sheila died and even before I met her, I like to know.”

“It ain’t any of your motherfuckin’ business.” She said in putrid silence.

Glen did a semi-smile and shrugged, he quickly thought of the idea that he grew up in a strict-Mormon setting and asked, “Well, can I ask if it’s worth making the people all around you miserable?”

“Please Glen, just return my son and daughter to their house and never talk to them again. I don’t need anyone telling me how to do things.” again with the silence, she began to sob.

“I’m not holding your son and daughter hostage. I just want to…”

“Shut up, Glen, of all the people I know since Sheila’s death you have been the one who always had to tell me off and be an asshole.”

“I just disagree with what you are doing, the reason why very few disagree with you because everyone else wants something from you.”

“Just shut up you cynical bastard.”

“I’m done. Think what you want to think, I got to bail a friend out, save the world and do some memos at work.” Glen said, he walked around her and headed forward to what he needed to do.

While inching his way there, he thought that today was starting out to be a strange day with delay and dismay. He had been insulted a few times already, first a fat man in a Aspire, second a couple of suburban punks who want anything in the world to make him feel threatened by them, third Jimbo, and now with Colleen Warnock, a person who wants her way at all times and can’t accept anything a little less.

He approached the desk and the officer noticed, through the mic, “May I help you?”

Glen knowing that they go by a last name basis said, “yes, I’m looking to bail out a Melrose, first name Tom.”

“I already bailed him out.” said a voice belonging to a black male.

Glen looked to the voice, he saw a dark-glasses wearing man sitting down wearing a plain black tee, he had muscles and although he was sitting down, one could tell this bald man was about 6 feet 4 inches and perhaps 260 pounds at the least. He had his arms crossed and appeared somewhat intimidating.

“So, you one of Tommy’s rich friends?” he asked.

Glen inched away from the desk and stepped closer to the man, he regarded Colleen walking towards him slowly, but she was just wandering around.

“Rich friends? I wish that was the case. May I ask who you are?” Glen asked.

He lighten up somewhat and said, “Rob, name’s Rob. But I’m known as Mantis.”

“Heard of you, my name is Glen.”

His eyebrows raised a little, “You the gambler?”

“Is that my title?”

“No, he says you are the money man. You got some uncanny knack for knowing which teams are winning. What are ya, mob?”

Glen didn’t like this man openly talking about his side business in front of the few available ears and even in a police station more or less. With that in his head and the few stories he has heard, this man is perhaps dangerous and-slash-or, just a man who doesn’t give a crap about discussing illegal activities. Glen did the unorthodox way and sat two chairs over to the man and breathed a hard breath. Before he said anything, he saw Colleen with her arms crossed, back turned to him, but she was looking over her shoulder.

“I think you are getting confused there, sir. I don’t do anything but work my job and head home trying to move on with life.” Glen said.

“And you gamble too.” Mantis added.

Glen hesitated a little in denying that, and he decided not to. He then asked with near silence, “Tommy told you a lot?”

“Yeah, the big mouth motherfucker tells me a lot.” going along with the same near-silence as Glen.

“Hmm… I don’t like that.” Glen said.

“Yeah, you know the reason why he is your pal.” Mantis chuckled.

“The root of all evil?” he asked.

“He wants more white friends, too.”

“Yes, I noticed. He can be kinda creepy at times.”

Mantis looked away and towards the non-window doors in where Tommy and Todd should be exiting, he added, “A creepy oriole who owes me a bit of money.”

Glen shrugged while looking straight at the plaque of the current sheriff in town, “That doesn’t surprise me. How long have you been here?”

“Way too long, college boy, way too long.”

Glen chuckled at the college boy analogy, at the corner of his eye, he saw Colleen inching closer to him with that blank stare on her face. He slowly looked on to show full attention to her. He imagined her wondering why he would get sociable with a black man who appears to be a menacing fellow that runs a gang. It was obvious that it piqued her interest.

“That’s frightening.” Glen said.

Mantis looked over, “What’s frightening?”

Before Glen could add into that, he also noticed Colleen looking weary to him.

“You know this bitch? Is she with you?”

Glen shook his head, “No… she just happens to be sort of a moral enemy to me.”

Mantis smiled and said to Colleen, “What the hell are you? Some kind of crazy stalker bitch looking for a young guy cause your man don’t wanna fuck your ugly wrinkly ass no more, cougar?”

Glen had mixed feelings on what he said to her, he wanted to laugh at that while she walked away in defeat and disgust. But the thought of him having a sexual fling with her horrified him and gave him a douche chill.

“Augh, boy.” Glen said while looking down.

Mantis laughed a little while looking back at the doors, waiting patiently for Tommy’s exit.

He looked to where Colleen was going, and she was heading to a door that lead to an office, chances were good that she was getting a cop or two to confront Mantis on what he said but was afraid to go around to talk to the desk cop. This was the first time Glen had been in the jail, but probably knew that there were cops floating around.

“I think we might have a problem.” Glen mumbled.

“Yeah, we got one, it’s takin’ too damn long for them to get Tom out.”

Just right at that mention, the yellow doors had opened. Out came Todd and Tommy.

“Mantis?” Tommy asked with a smile on his face.

He got up, and behind him was Glen, he noticed him too and with a surprised look, “Glen, what da fuck are you doing here?”

“Tommy!” Glen yapped.

“Glen…” Tommy replied with disgust.

“Tommy!”

“The hell are you doin?” said Mantis.

“Tommy!”

“Yeah, Glen, I can hear you.” Tommy said.

“You called me, you idiot.” Glen replied.

That is when Todd had noticed Glen, he stepped up his harsh walk to him with a blunt face of anger.

Glen regarded that while Mantis and Tommy did fist bumps, but Mantis said, “The debt is seven-hundred now muthafucka.”

Tommy stomped his foot with a quick raise of his hands, “Damn, that’s more than I have!”

He was about to ask Glen about more winnings, until he noticed that the guy who was just released, named Todd was staring ruthlessly at Glen.

“You ratted me out, faggot.” Todd said.

“Todd, I did not. Stop believing that me, your brother and your sister are the only ones who hate you. “

“Whoa!” Tommy said with a hand up, “Glen, you know this guy?”

“Yeah, Tommy, this is Todd. He is my dead fiancée’s brother, Jimbo and Jasmine’s older brother. He is the dealer and he seriously hates gays and believes that anyone who disagrees with him is automatically gay.”

Tommy smiled and pointed at him, “Man, this motherfucker is stupid as hell. He’s walking around all like he is the shit. But really, he’s a piece of shit.”

“Fuck you, you goofy lookin’ faggot.” Todd said to Tommy.

“This guy talks so much shit, these two big motherfuckers were chasing him down the hall. He pussed out and ran by an officer, asking for protection.” Tommy added.

“Fuck you, I was about to kick their faggot asses.”

“Fuck you bitch, you ran around the cop and said, ‘I don’t want these guys kicking my ass.’ You’re a fuckin’ pussy. You just a fuckin’ loser getting his ass kicked in Eastpointe by fake thugs. I heard about that shit.” Tommy said.

“Hmm, I don’t recall ever telling you about this, Tommy.”

“Ya didn’t,” Tommy said, “I heard about it here.” then back to Todd, “If you running away a lot, you better get your ass out of the biz, nigga. Especially if y’all getting’ your ass kicked by some white kids who think they black, tryin’ to get into real gangs and Detroit. I bet you watch these hood movies and you sit and daydream with your dick in yo hand, thinking you can run a ruthless gang runnin’ drugs and shit. You ain’t shit if you have two country boys chasin’ you down, faggot.”

Tommy and Mantis laughed at that, Todd looked down in defeat.

“Hey Todd,” Glen said with sarcasm, “it ain’t the end of the world. You can run a drug gang in Port Huron. I hear St. Clair County jail isn’t so bad compared to here.”

Tommy and Mantis pointed and laughed at Todd again.

“HEY!” yelled a male voice behind him.

All four slowly turned to look at the voice, Tommy and Mantis giggles still continued.

There were five uniformed officers ranging to rookie to being on for too long. Along with them was Colleen Warnock. Obviously, she was fearful to combat against Mantis, who to Glen, is or rather close to being a man who runs a Detroit gang. And it was oblivious to the officers that he was a character who needed the attention of five officers.

“I want you three out of here.” A white-haired veteran officer said.

Mantis looked away laughing while Glen and Tommy appeared confused on who the three is.

“The one named Glen, the one named Tommy and you too.” he said while pointing at Mantis.

“Man, you bad.” Mantis said while shaking his head.

 

            Being rushed outside by four officers with little fury was Glen, Mantis and Tommy. They felt the Michigan wind hitting them while Mantis put on his coat. Tommy felt a little shove from the young bulky officer behind him.

“Man, quit pushin’ you fat fuck.” Tommy said over his shoulder.

“Get moving’ Mr. Melrose.”  said the officer.

Mantis laughed and said, “Oh shit, he called you Mr. Melrose.”

“Man, fuck you. I hate my fuckin’ last name.”

“Are you three together?” asked another officer.

“No, I’m parked up front.” said Mantis while pointing that he parked his Cadillac Escalade in an officers only lot.

“You’re not supposed to park over there.” said the officer.

Mantis shrugged, “Oh shit, y’all better give me a fuckin’ ticket.”

Tommy chuckled.

And the two of them parted ways while Glen walked straight to his vehicle. A single officer followed him down while three made sure Mantis and Tommy leave. Glen saw that Mantis walked to a Cadillac Escalade, appearing brand new or at the least, highly detailed.

Glen saw this and thought to himself, ‘Can’t turn back now.’

“How do you know those two?” said the officer behind him

He regarded the officer who was likely a rookie, and said, “I know the smaller guy. The big one I just met.”

“Yeah, well, he’s runs a big gang in Detroit, he’s been in prison a couple of times. Some five years back, he beat up a white kid for talking crap about him.”

He looked over there and simply said, “Well, he appears like a guy who would do this.”

“That little guy has been busted a couple times for drug possession, including yesterday. Is there something I need to know about on why you are hanging out with him?”

“He’s got his issues.” Glen said with a shrug.

“And how come you are being rude to your mom?” the officer asked.

Glen stopped in his tracks and looked strangely to the officer, “excuse me?”

“Is Colleen Warnock your mother? She stated that.”

He shook his head in laughter, then said, “She was going to be my mother-in-law.”

“What happened? Did her daughter not want to be with an asshole like you?”

“Well no, officer, she happen to die in a horrible car accident, being ran over as a pedestrian by a drunk driver.”

The officer stopped and Glen could tell he was sorry, his eyes widen.

“Sheila Rucker. She was going to be my wife, but sadly, it didn’t come to pass. I understand that you may have a problem with me hanging out with the wrong people, but don’t say shit like that.”

“Oh, sir. I’m very sorry.” he said, now playing the sympathetic card.

Glen rose his hands, “Just leave me be.”

He turned around and made steps into the parking lot, on his way to his vehicle.

“Um, listen sir, I just want to say that…”

Glen interrupted while not looking, “Just leave me be.”

He heard the footsteps, “But sir, listen.” He caught up beside Glen, “but if you are doing drugs, and I won’t tell, but there are plenty of clubs, mental health clubs, grief counselors, I like to help…”

“Dude, just shut it.” Glen said while stopping.

He stopped too.

“I don’t do drugs, I don’t do shit. Just leave the fuck be, okay? No more words, I don’t want your fucking help.”

 

A couple of hours later from the jail to a stop at Ropers to do a few memos, Glen had arrived home with that officer saying what he said in his head. He didn’t want to venture on that thought that the officer was out to get him, merely a dipshit rookie getting into the force and ready to rid of the wrongdoing in his boundary lines. He guessed that he had issues with dopers, or perhaps Colleen may of said some things while attempting to get the officers to chase Mantis away, and he bought it. The very idea of Glen’s side business having been hinted by Mantis to Colleen was a thought, but what bothered him most was what the officer said.

            After sitting his car for over forty seconds of mixed emotion, he pulled himself together and exited his car. For some reason, the chatter across the way piqued his interest and he took a look. In front of 322 were the two teenagers and the chubby woman of that toddler he saw last night, sitting on the steps of that front door, smoking and talking to each other. He looked away and began to walk to his house. But before he made his way, he could of sworn he heard one of the teens say, ‘That guy’s a faggot.’ He didn’t stop and continued in with the silly thought to giving Todd a call about his potential match.

            “Hey guys, I’m back.” Glen said upon entering.

“What the hell happened? You were gone for over three hours.” Jimbo said as Glen took his shoes off.

“Sorry, I also stopped at Ropers to take care of some memos.” he said while walking into the living room.

While noticing that Jimbo and Jasmine were watching A Christmas Story, he heard “I Hope You Dance” come out of his pocket, with the mutter, “Jesus Christ.”

He pulled it out, hoping it wasn’t his job, or Colleen or Todd, instead, it was a call from Regatta’s Of Clinton Township.

Glen pulled his index finger up and answered, “Hello?”

“Hey, Glen.” said Regatta herself.

“Regatta? Good morning… or afternoon.”

“It’s past noon, honey. I wanted to let you know that you presence is required at my restaurant tonight, is that okay?”

“Yes, I mean, it’s required.”

“Yes, Mario wants you there, he want to promote you. You made Amel a lot of money, those online bets are working good.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“So, bring yourself down here, you don’t have to dress like you at work, put on a sweater and some jeans and get your hot young ass down here.”

Glen flourished with chuckles at that and said, “Okay, I’ll be there.”

“Then after I close shop, you can come by my house.”

“Is that required?”

“Nah, but I want you too.”

“Really?” he said, he knew the reason why but he asked why.

“Just cause.”

“Well, let me think about that. I’ll see you around… what time?”

“Seven, get over here at seven.”

“I’ll see you at seven.”

“Okay, sexy boy, see you at seven.”

That followed by a hang-up and chills for Glen, with the thought that perhaps Regatta is drunk and also drinks a lot.

Jasmine and Jimbo sat on the couch looking on to Glen.

“What was that about?” Jim asked.

“Uh, a drunken woman inching away from being a senior citizen wants me.”

“Is she mob?”

“Uh, kinda. It’s Regatta, that restaurant we went to.”

Jasmine showed disgust, “Ehu… she’s kinda old. I’m poor but I wouldn’t go out with her, even if she is rich.”

“Same here; is that On Demand or is that on cable?” Glen referencing The Christmas Story on TV, getting to where the freckle face bully running after Ralphie and his friends.

“Um, they are playing it all day.” Jasmine said.

“You guys like your holiday movies.”

“Yeah, kinda miss Christmas when it was cool, but when you are an adult, it kinda sucks.”  Jasmine added.

“I remember mom telling me that Santa Claus is real when I was fourteen, still wanting me to think that he does exist. What the fuck?” Jim added.

“Well guys, as promised, I’ll take you out to lunch. And also, if you guys want, you can borrow Home Alone.” Glen added while he walked his way to his room.

“Nah, we’ll buy it.” Jim said.

“Yeah, do you have Patrick’s number, so I can give him a call?” Jasmine asked.

While in his room, he stopped and asked Jasmine, “Why do you want Patrick’s number?”

“He says he has a rabbit he can sell me.”

Glen attempted to recover the conversation going on yesterday, and recalled that Patrick had a rabbit for sale.

“Oh yeah, I should see him Monday morning… or, I do have his number, I’ll text him about it, have him call you.”