Clarence (part 3 of 3)

Clarence

"Leave,"

the leaves

The sirens came as much pawns as Clarence had been. He told Donny to go to his room until his sister came home. The day brought a cool chill under a half-lit sky checkered by clouds. The same invisible nylon rope that pulled him earlier pulled him to his driveway.
He had been a victim of his own ambition in thinking that the manila folder would give him the leg up. It had blinded him to Oakland's scheming and motivations. Underestimating Oakland was his first mistake. Clarence had only known Oakland as a brute sporting a one-track mind.
My arrest and the investigation would be hard for the family, Clarence thought as the sirens grew louder. But it would not go without rewards though: information would be his treasure now. He thought of Coarse's parable and the part that said, 'beware of lions but remember that lion meat is as good as any.' Now I go into the belly of the beast. Sirens blasted past neighbors making them peek out of their windows as if for a bad storm. Distracted by the single flank of police cars he was startled when another police convoy arrived from the opposite direction. Putting his hands out to his side and opening them to reveal empty palms was his  demonstration of submission. But when the first officer leaped from his car and pointed a handgun at him he shouted, "hands on your head and lay down. I want your face in the dirt."
The trees on his lawn to his right shuttered from a higher wind current that did not brush his low body, now, face against his thick green grass. 'Leave,' their leaves seemed to whisper to him, "leave."
"No, not now, not yet," Clarence whispered back.
He heard several feet patter in hurried, muffled strides on the grass towards him. The first officer who got to him placed a heavy knee in the small of his back while someone else used a zip tie to bind his hands. He stumbled once and was dazed while they lifted and led him to the patrol car. If I can see all of Oakland's cards then I can make my move. I just hope the kids can handle it.
"Hey!" Clarence heard a young girl's voice and his heart stopped; Kaylee, his daughter, was home early.
"Dad?! Hey let him go. He's a cop too guys." Clarence saw that she was
running from down the block because the patrol cars had blocked her way from parking closer.
"No," he said weakly at first. He was a sorry sight; he had sweat pants and a t-shirt on that were stained and dirty. He was also limping from when the officer jammed his knee into his back. "Go to Donny!" He said so low and loud he startled on officer at his side."I'm coming back, don't worry."
"Dad!! What's happening?! What should I do?"
"Take care of your mom and brothers. They need you. I'll be home soon."

"Don't Worry" by Steve Roll click here