They were searching his locker.
“Can I ask what the hell you guys are looking for?” Hands in his pockets, Royal allowed them to do the search, not that he had much choice with the headmaster on standby.
Principal Hastings’s lips curled. “That’s a warning, Mr. Prinze. Don’t use that language in my halls.”
“What’s this about, then?” Royal lifted and dropped his hands, and from the distance, I caught a glance of who flanked his other side.
The sheriff, the legit sheriff of Maywood Heights, stood there, hands on his hips and in full uniform. What was even weirder about that was the school’s security staff stood behind him. That’s when I realized Maywood Heights cops searched Royal’s locker. Real cops like he was a criminal.
“You’ll let the men do their job, son,” Principal Hastings said, and Royal grimaced.
“I’m not your son, Headmaster,” Royal returned, his eyes dark. He forced his arms over his chest. “And I think I have a right to know why my personal property is being searched.”
Principal Hastings honed in. “These lockers are my property, Mr. Prinze.”
“And we have a search warrant.” Sheriff Ashford pinned the document with a motion against Royal’s chest. The man looked a far cry different than he had last time I’d seen him. He appeared less like a grieving father and more a pissed-off sheriff. I didn’t understand and headed down the hallway.
Royal instantly noticed, his arms lowering to his sides. “December?”
The whole party turned in the hallway, and when Royal started to leave the line, the sheriff got him by the arm. “We’re not done here.”
Royal wrestled away but Principal Hastings stopped him, getting between the both of us. He put his hands up, his sneer in my direction. “Why are you here, Ms. Lindquist?”
“Bathroom.” I held up the pass. “What’s going on?”
Distracted, Principal Hastings gave room for Royal to get a hand around and on me. He pulled me over. “These creeps are searching my locker. I don’t know why—”
“Well, you will now,” one of the cops said, shifting everyone’s attention that way. Wearing blue gloves, the officer had a cell phone between two fingers, a cell phone that wasn’t Royal’s. I didn’t recognize it, but I knew it wasn’t my boyfriend’s. I’d seen it a lot the past couple days since we’d been staying together.
Sheriff Ashford’s eyes were wild as he took it. He snatched the phone with force, slamming it up against Royal’s chest so hard he let go of me. The sheriff bared his teeth. “What the hell is this, boy?”
Royal shook his head, his eyes flashing wide. “I have no idea, sir. It’s not mine…”
“I know it’s not.” Sheriff Ashford pushed him again, pushed him so hard. “It’s my damn daughter’s. Get this little shit in handcuffs.”
“What—”
Without a thought, the men did, grabbing and throwing Royal into a set of lockers. His face hit so hard his eyes shut.
“Royal!”
A hand came out, pulling me back. “Back off, Ms. Lindquist,” Principal Hastings said, his hand grappled tight on my arm. “Let the men do their job.”
“I didn’t fucking do anything!” Royal roared, the cops strong-arming him. At this point, Sheriff Ashford had given the phone to one of the officers and was cuffing Royal himself, using more force than he should have on a teenage boy.
He forced Royal’s face into the lockers. “You have the right to remain silent,” he started, basically spitting at Royal as he went into the Miranda rights. He quickly finished his spiel and pressed Royal’s face to the metal again. “And you did fucking do something. Otherwise, your name wouldn’t be all over my daughter’s suicide letter we found this morning.”
“What!” Pulled off the locker, Royal thrust a shoulder, bucking. “That’s bullshit.”
“Is it? I guess we’ll find out.” Sheriff Ashford threw Royal at the other cops. “Get him in the car.”
The men took Royal, but when I started to go again, Principal Hastings’s hand dug into my arm to the point where it pinched. I was jerked back, almost falling, and the only thing Royal seemed to be aware of then was me.
“Fucking let her go!” he growled, fighting the men hard, but he was in no state to help me when two armed officers were all over him. They tugged him away, Royal bucking the entire time, and I couldn’t go either since Principal Hastings had me. The headmaster got me to my feet but he wasn’t letting me go.
Sheriff Ashford raised his hat, his face beet red. “Your cooperation is appreciated.”
“Of course. Our halls are always open to the Maywood Heights Sheriff’s Office,” Principal Hastings said, holding me by both arms now. He had to…
I was screaming my fucking head off.
“Royal!”
“December!” Royal hollered, roaring again. “Let me go!”
They didn’t, didn’t let either one of us go, and the bell rang, letting class out. The halls immediately filled, and it was only after they clustered to the point of suffocation Principal Hastings released me.
“I hope you’re going to class, Ms. Lindquist,” he said from behind me, the asshole. I didn’t look back. I just ran after Royal. I could hear him screaming, calling out my name over the blaring noise in the hall, and I only saw him a little because students were making way for the arrest. He was being carted away in front of everyone, embarrassed in front of everyone, and Principal Hastings let that happen.
“Royal!”
“December?” Knight grabbed me, LJ and Jax right behind him. Knight’s lips parted. “What’s going on?”
“Royal’s being
