Officer Reilly scratched his head and replied in a slow drawl, “We’ll call when we get to the station.” 

“Aw, Bones, ya ol’ kidder.” I held my stomach and faked a laugh. “What, you think Officer Reilly’s got a payphone in his cruiser?” I punched Bones in the shoulder. “Hahaha.” 

Officer Reilly narrowed his eyes and he stared at us for a few uncomfortable seconds, then he strode to the back of his cruiser and popped the trunk. Actually, the trunk of his car was so big you probably could have fit a phone booth in it. Officer Reilly put our bikes in the trunk, used some rope to tie them down, then opened the driver’s-side passenger door to let us in. 

Bones was about to get in but instead he stood up and said, “Hey, Officer Reilly, do you think I could ride up front with you? I’ve never ridden in a police car before and I think it would be cool if—.” 

“Bones,” I interrupted loudly. (I would’ve stomped on his dolphin-sized foot if I could’ve gotten away with it unseen.) “Office Reilly is taking us in because we’re in trouble, not because we’re getting a tour of the police station.” 

Officer Reilly laughed. Good, he wasn’t mad about Bones’ request. I breathed a sigh of relief. “You know what,” he said, smiling at Bones, “I think we can let you sit up front, son. That flip you did over the hedge was certainly worth it.” 

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