“I’mjusttryingtoremindyoutothinktwicebeforeyouact.Justbecauseyouhavesupportfromthehigher-upsdoesn’tmeanyoucanrunamok.”Withasolemnlook,Dahliaadded,“Dustin,youmustrealizethatyourworthhastobebackedbyability.Curryingfavorswithpowerfulpeoplecanpropelyouto greaterheights,butitwon’stunlessyoucanproveyou’reapersonofhighcaliber.Sodon’tthinkyou’reallhighandmighty-

considerthisalessonfromme.”

Dustinsnickereduponhearingthis.“HowcanyoubesurethatI’mcurryingfavorswiththepowerful?”

“Isthatnotthecase?Ifitweren’tforMs.Harmon’sreputation,wouldtheCobrahaveletyougosoeasily?”Dahliadidn’tholdbackwithherremark.

“Whateveryousay.Iknowthat,whateverIdo,I’mnothingbutauselessprickinyoureyes,”Dustinsneeredas

he shookhishead.

Firstimpressionstrulyweretoughtochange.Evenwiththeevidenceinfrontoftheireyes,somepeoplewouldsimplyrefusetobelieveit.Theypreferredscouringforexcusesinanattempttoconsolidatetheirprejudices.

“Oh,Dustin,don’tbedisheartened.Keepyourdignityandutilizeyourcapabilitiestocarveoutyour owncareerandlegacyinsteadofbeingazybumwholeechesoffothers,”Dahliaurgedinadeepvoice.

“SowhatifI’mabum?Catchingeasyfishisalsoaskill.ItjustmeansIworksmart,”Dustinshrugged.

“You…”Dahliawasstartingtogetannoyed.Shehadputsincereeffortintotrying totalksenseintohim,but

heradviceseemedtofallondeafears.Nottomentionthefactthathedidnotappearashamedofhisbehavior

atall.Itwasapparentthattherewasnosavingsomepeoplefromtheirstubbornness.

Asthetwowentbackandforth,afewpatrolcarspulledupandblockedtheintersection.

The doorsofthepatrolcarsswungopen,andseveraluniformedpoliceofficerssteppedoutandapproachedthemswiftly.

“We’relookingfor DustinRhys,”saidoneofthepoliceofficers.

“That’sme.”Dustinresponded,“Issomethingwrong,officer?”

“Wejustreceivedareportthatyou’vestolensomevaluableobjects.Pleasewithus!”shoutedtheofficer.

“Stolen?Officer,theremustbeamisunderstanding.”Dustindered,squintinghiseyes.

“Alright,mayIaskwhat’sinsidethisbox?”

“Panaxroot.”

“Thenthatprovesit!Comewithusimmediatelyforfurtherinvestigation!”Theofficersaidlittlemoreashe handcuffedDustin.

“Officer!Whatexactlyisgoingon?”eximedDahlia,assherushedforward,thecolordrainedfromherface.

“Whoareyou?”askedthepatrolofficer.

“I’mhisfriend,”shereplied.

“Hmph,suspicious!Youcouldbeanaplice.Takeherawayaswell!”

Inoneswiftmovement,theofficerclickedapairofhandcuffsaroundDahlia’swrists.Thisincidentlefteveryoneatthescenestunned.

“Officer,thishasnothingto dowithher.It’sall me,”saidDustinwithafrown.

“He’sright,he’sright!ThisisallDustin’sdoing.Ithasnothingtodowithmydaughter!Ifyouwanttoarresthim,thendothat!Mydaughterhasdonenothingwrong.She’sinnocent!”pleadedFlorence.

“That’sright,officer!Mysisterisinnocent.She’sakindsoul!”Jameseximed,panicked.

“We’llfindoutifshe’sinnocentoncetheinvestigationisover.Takeheraway!”barkedthepoliceofficer.Withasinglmandfromthesquadleader,DustinandDahliawereescortedintothepolicecars.

““Wait!”Mattsteppedoutfromthecrowdandbegan,“I’moftheLaneyfamilyofMillsburg.Pleasecutussome ckandlet…”

“Anymorenonsense,andyou’llbingalong!”snappedtheofficer.HiscoldresilencedMattinstantly.

TherewasnothinganyonecoulddoastheywatchedDahlialeavewiththem.

“It’sover!Goddamngood–for–nothingDustin,gettingmydaughterintrouble!”criedFlorenceasshestomped thegroundindistress.

“Idon’tgiveadamnifhedigshisowngrave,but todragDahliawithhim?Whata bastard!”Jamesscowled withresentment.

“Now’snotthetimeforthis.Quick,weneedtothink ofawaytosaveMs.Nicholson!”saidLyra.

“You’reright!Wehavetofindaway.Iknowafriendwhoworksatthepolice station.I’llgivehimacat once!”

“Iknowartivewhohasconnectionswithsomepoliceofficersof higherranks.I’llfindoutif hecanofferus anyhelp.”

Suddenly,theairwasfilledwiththeexcitedchatteringofeveryoneinthegroup,gatheringassistancefromanyheycouldthinkof.