Quoted By:
You’ve just spent a whole night fighting monsters, dodging death traps, and dealing with the most obnoxious scientist ever. You can handle your shithead dad.
Even with his gaze burning into you, you manage to hold firm–he doesn’t control <span class="mu-i">shit</span>, you think to yourself, least of all <span class="mu-i">YOU.</span>
So you stay quiet. And remain quiet. You have the right to do so, after all, not that you need to tell your dad that.
Like you, however, Detective McKay has little tolerance for bullshit. Leaning back in his chair, the stern-faced investigator nods to his portly partner.
“Mack.”
With practiced efficiency, Detective Enselmann takes a <span class="mu-s">RADIO</span> out from his pocket and brings it close to his swollen face.
“Enselmann here. Yep… yea, you mind grabbing that Hornsby girl? Right, the redhead.”
You hold firm, but just barely. You can’t show weakness…
“Yep, we’re having trouble verifying some of her info… I know… yea, we’ll come grab her from ya in a bit… just pop her in a cell for now. Right. Thanks, bud.”
Stowing his radio back into his pocket, Mack gives you an exaggerated shrug. “Sorry, slugger. Gotta do what ya’ gotta do…”
Your father clears his throat before leaning back over to you. “I’m getting the feeling you’re not paying attention to me, so let me be clear: most of your pals are going home right now. They’ll get on a <span class="mu-s">FERRY</span>, take a nap, listen to some music, and by the afternoon they’ll be back at home and that’ll be the end of it.”
McKay’s eyes narrow to match your own. “Meanwhile, forensics investigators, detectives, coast guard, and a few more lucky winners will stay here for the rest of the day. Some even for the rest of the weekend.”
You know what he’s getting at, but you don’t interrupt him.
“If it’s deemed necessary, a select few partygoers will be staying here with the investigation team: Suspicious individuals, people with health risks…”
You son of a bitch…
“Guess who has the power to make that happen?” Your father asks, neither taunting you nor asking, really. “It’s really <span class="mu-i">any</span>one’s guess as to how long it’ll be before they go home… what’s your wager, Mack?”
“Pfft, I’d say we’re gonna be out here for a week at <span class="mu-i">least</span>!” Laughs your father’s partner! “Lots of T’s to cross an’ I’s to dot, kiddo.”
“So I’ll ask again:” Your father repeats in a frigid tone matched only by his cold, hard stare, “DO. I. MAKE. MY. SELF…. <span class="mu-s">CLEAR</span>?”
>YES (TRUTH)
>YES (LYING)
>NO.
>SILENCE.
>WRITE-IN!
