What You're Missing

Chapter 10

"Jasper," Henry started before placing a hand on Ray's shoulder. "This is my boss, Ray."

"Hey, how you doing, kid?" Ray spoke quickly and absentmindedly, bringing a hand out to shake Jasper's. Jasper grinned sheepishly at Henry's boss, their handshake firm and leaving him slightly intimidated.

"Good," he answered politely. "How about-"

"Yeah, we gotta get going, so," Ray cut him off short. He gave Henry a look and the blond nodded in reply.

"Sorry Jasp," Henry apologized to his friend, placing a hand behind his back and leading him towards the door. "Maybe you'll find a gift somewhere else-"

Suddenly, the door swung open and two police officers in uniform stomped in. Their large booted footsteps echoed against the floor, their expressions stern and harsh.

"Where's the manager?" one of the officers demanded. His voice boomed in the otherwise silent room, the tension in the room turning dense. Henry and Ray exchanged looks of both confusion and worry, while Jasper tiptoed away from the commotion.

Ray stepped forward. "Uh, I'm the boss here," he stated. "Can I help you with something, officer?" Ignoring Ray, the other officer approached Henry.

"You work here, kid?" the officer asked Henry, his voice a lot calmer and gentler than the officer addressing Ray.

"Yeah," Henry responded questioningly, his eyebrows knitted in confusion. "What's going on?"

The officer with Ray spoke again. "You're under arrest, sir." He brought out handcuffs from his back pocket and hastily took Ray by his wrists, stretching them behind his back to cuff him.

"Hey, what the hell?!" Ray shouted, trying to fight against the officer and free himself. "What did I do?"

"We have reason to believe you have gone against the child labor laws of Swellview with this employee and are condemning your business until further notice," the officer stated as he shoved Ray towards the door.

"What- child labor? No, y-you don't understand-" Ray stammered, his voice filling with fear.

"You have the right to remain silent," the officers spoke as they went out the door.

"Ray! No!" Henry shouted after his boss as he followed the officers. "You can't arrest him!"

"Kid, what is happening?!" Ray exclaimed as he was shoved into the cop car. His voice was strained at this point, and Henry felt his chest grow heavy with guilt, like he was to blame for Ray's arrest.

"Don't worry, Ray!" The blond reassured him as he followed them. "I'll come get you!" The car door shut right at the end of his words, and he could only faintly see his forlorn expression through the tinted windows.

"This is crazy!" Henry exclaimed to the officers. "He's hasn't done anything, I-I haven't been-"

"There've been accusations made against your boss, kid," one of the officers spoke. "We're handling this now."

"Accusations?" Henry repeated. "But who would-?" The officer nudged his chin in the direction behind Henry, raising his eyebrows. Confused, Henry turned around to see a head of familiar curls move abruptly behind a bush. His eyes squinted at the figure before widening in realization.

"Charlotte?" he asked, walking towards his girlfriend. She slowly and sheepishly stepped away from the bushes, revealing her presence. An awkward smile was all she could give him as she watched the shocked expression form on his face.

"Surprise," she said weakly. She silently thanked the cop as he lightened their awkward tension with a cough.

"We gotta run," the officer interrupted. "If you want to see your boss, he'll be in a holding cell for now down at the station." With that, he ducked into the passenger seat of the car and the two drove away. Henry sighed before turning back around to Charlotte.