“Sure.”
When Mick clocked on, Ryder sat chomping at the bit ready to go and start patrol. Being confined to the office with nothing to do was not her style.
“Boss wants us to check on those guys who arrived the other day. Said they were in the caravan park and might need a move along.”
Mick cleared his throat and swallowed. “Yeah, sure. Uh, let me grab a drink of water and I’m ready to go.”
Ryder watched as he fumbled with a water bottle and tried not to look in his direction giving him time to sort himself out. When she saw him walk toward her, she looked up. “Let’s go then. You can point these guys out to me and we’ll see how they’re behaving.” Standing up and pushing in her chair, she noticed Jake watching them. Jaded. I’ll give him jaded.
Ryder stalked out of the station with Mick hot on her heels. “Let’s head down toward the park and see what’s going on.” She turned left and plastered a smile on her face, nodding to people as she passed them.
“Tell me, why did you decide to join the force?” Ryder glanced over at Mick who matched her stride for stride.
He licked his lips before answering, atell tale blush creeping up his cheeks. “Seemed like the right thing to do, you know? I like helping people and sorting out problems.” He waved as a car tooted its horn.
“Seems like you know just about everyone in town too. Guess that always helps.” She smiled at an elderly couple sitting on a bench outside the local fruit market and got a small glow of pleasure when they wished her good morning.
“Guess it has its ups and downs like anything. Mates are worried I’ll pick on them and I try not to, but if I catch them breaking the law, they only have themselves to blame.”
“Fair enough too.” They crossed the street and Ryder could see the park looming ahead of them. Beyond that she noticed caravans and tents. It seemed the local playground backed onto the caravan park. Good for the kids visiting but it could turn into a hot spot of trouble in no time. When they got closer, Mick pointed out a group of older teens skylarking around on the slide while a few parents stood to one side, a verbal slanging match taking place. “I’m guessing these are the guys Jake told me about?”
“Guessing so. They sure aren’t local, that’s for certain.” Mick flicked on his walkie talkie and checked in with dispatch, letting them know they’d come across the teens the locals had complained about.
Ryder strolled over and stood between them and the small group of parents they were heckling. “Morning guys. What seems to be happening here? I could hear the ruckus from way up the street.”
“We ain’t doing nothing wrong. Got as much right as the next person to be here.” His mates cheered him on and gave him slaps on the back.
“Actually, if you read the sign over there,” Ryder pointed to the sign at the park gate, “you’ll see this equipment is meant for children under twelve years of age. Now forgive me if I have it wrong, but you boys seem to be somewhat older than that.”
“What a load of bull—”
“Watch your language.” One of the parents pushed forward, his face ruddy with anger.
Mick stepped between them. “Best if you all calm down.”
“If you want to swear in public, I’ll have to inform you of my intent to book you. Sure you want to go down that path? I’d think you’d be better walking away.” She dropped her hands to her waist, widened her feet ready for whatever they did next. A few empty beer bottles littered the area and it seemed likely these lads were the culprits by the way one smart mouth slurred his words.
He slid down the slide and landed in an ungainly heap at the bottom in the sawdust. As his mates roared with laughter, he stumbled to his feet and stepped toward Ryder. She watched him, more amused than anything because she could almost guarantee how this would play out.
“Smart assed yankee bitch. Who the hell are you to tell me—”
She reached out and grabbed his arm, twisting it around so his body turned away from her. Ryder grabbed the handcuffs from her belt and snapped them on his wrist before he could make a sound. “I did warn you but being as you don’t seem to like to listen, you’re under arrest.” She read him his rights and let Mick take control of him. “Now, any of your mates feel like they want to join you in a cell or are you going to be on your way?”
She smiled as they nudged each other, their stage whispers loud enough for those present to hear. “Think carefully boys, I’ve got another set of cuffs here if you don’t start behaving yourselves. This town doesn’t tolerate this kind of behaviour in front of children, nor do I. With the amount of complaints we’ve had about you boys, we have more than enough to haul you in front of a judge.”
“Can’t you just book ‘em and get them off the streets?” A parent stood apart from the others. “Idiots are keeping us awake at night with their drunken behaviour. We didn’t come here for this kind of holiday.”
“I can, but I’d rather they moved on back to where they came from. What do you say boys, ready to pack your bags and go home?”
They shuffled their feet and shared glances, their earlier bravado waning. “How we going to get home if you lock our mate up?”
“Where do you live?” Ryder could sense them abandoning their friend while he went before the court.
“Sydney.”
“There’s a
