Word: Scofflaw

scofflaw

\ SKAWF-law, SKOF- \  , noun;

1. a person who flouts the law, especially one who fails to pay fines owed.

2. a person who flouts rules, conventions, or accepted practices.

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The large room was dark and eerily quiet.  The only lights were from two narrow beams that moved around the area, illuminating the desks and chairs that occupied the room.  The only sounds were those of the two individuals holding the lights.  One of them took normal, unhurried steps.  The others footfalls were short, jerky and panicked.  His breath matched his footsteps as he cast his small flashlight nervously around.

                “We shouldn’t be here.”  Sam, the nervous boy said.

                “Yeah, yeah.  I heard you the first ten times.”  The other boy, Trevor, said while rolling his eyes.

                “You sure?  Cause we’re still here.”

                “Oh don’t be such a baby.  Nothing’s gonna happen.  ‘Sides, even if we were caught, what’s the worst that could happen?”

                “We could be arrested for breaking and entering for one.”

                “Pff, yeah, like that’ll happen.  First off, we’re both minors.  Second, your dad’s a cop and we’re using his keys to get into the station.  If anyone asks, we just say he asked us to come and get something from his desk.”

                “And when they ask him, he denies it and we get sent to juvie for stealing the keys on top of breaking and entering.”

                “You worry too much.  It’s not like we’re trying to steal anything.  We just want to look around.”

                “Uh huh.  And what’re we looking for?”  Sam asked bluntly.

                “Oh you know, anything cool.  We won’t take anything, just look.  Maybe take a few pics to show off at school tomorrow.”

                “Yeah, right.  This wouldn’t have anything to do with those parking tickets your dad doesn’t want to pay, would it?” 

                Trevor stopped dead.  He shined his flashlight in Sam’s face.  Sam covered his eyes to shield them from the bright light.  Sam tried to duck out of the beam, but Trevor moved the light to keep it on Sam’s face.

                “Dude, would you stop that?”  Sam asked as he tried to ward off the light.  Trevor didn’t say anything.  “Ok, ok, I’m sorry I said anything about your dad ducking the tickets.”

                “Damn right you are.”  Trevor said as he removed the light from Sam’s face.  “Now where’s the evidence locker.  I bet that’s where all the really cool stuff is.”

                “It’s in the back, but…”

                Trevor dashed off before Sam could finish speaking.  It was Sam’s turn to roll his eyes as he followed his friend to the evidence room.  Trevor was trying to open the locked door until Sam showed up.  As soon as both teens were there, Trevor excitedly looked to Sam, giving him a silent look to open the door.

                “Just so you know, I can’t open the door for you.”  Sam said.

                “Sure you can.  You got your dad’s keys and everything.  Oh wait, I bet you don’t know which one it is.  Don’t worry about that.  Just try them all until you find the right one.”

                “No, I can’t.  I really can’t do that.”

                “Ok fine.  Give me the keys and I’ll do it you big wimp.”

                Sam sighed and held out the small key ring.  Trevor snatched the keys and hurriedly tried one of them.  When it didn’t fit, he went on to the next one. He tried them one after another with no luck. 

                “You know it’s not going to work.”  Sam said.

                “Shut up.  I just haven’t found the right key yet is all.”  Trevor said as he fumbled with the next key.

                “No, I mean—“

                “Quiet, I think this one’s it.”  Trevor said, interrupting Sam.  “It’s the last one, so it has to be the right one.”

                Trevor placed the key up to the keyhole almost reverently.  The tip of the key went into the small opening, and stopped dead.  Trevor fidgeted with the key, trying to get it to go into the lock.  When it was clear it wouldn’t, he looked angrily at Sam.

                “Dude, what gives?  Why won’t any of these work?”

                “I told you it wouldn’t.  If you’d have listened, I’d have told you my dad doesn’t have the key to the evidence room.  Only the people who work there can get in.  Normal cops like my dad can’t.”

                “Seriously?  You mean we came all this way for nothing?”

                “Yup.”

                “Well what about the chief’s office?  I bet he has the key.  Why don’t we try there?”

                “Won’t work.  He keeps his office locked at night, and dad doesn’t have that key either.”

                “So why does he have all these keys if they won’t do any good?”

                “Well, let’s see.”  Sam took the keys and started going through them, “This one’s for the station, this one’s for the squad car.  This one’s the normal car.  I’m pretty sure this one’s his locker.”

                “Whoa, hold on, his locker?  Does he keep his gun and stuff in there?”  Sam shrugged his shoulders.  “Let’s go check it out.  We can salvage this night yet.”

                Just then, another light filtered in through the windows.  It past by and stopped, shining in through the front.  It soon stopped and was cut off abruptly. 

                “See, this is why I said we shouldn’t be here.”  Sam said quickly, his nervous panic returning.

                “Uh, uh.” Trevor stuttered.  He had no idea what to do.  “Um, are there any good places to hide?”

                Sam nodded and started leading the way to what he hoped would be a secure hiding spot.  Once they were there, they crouched down and waited. 

                “Just so you know,” Sam whispered as the sound of a key turning in the front door reached them, “If we get caught, I’m so blaming you.”

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 I'm sure they'll be fine.  Kind of.  I haven't thought of what might happen.  I'll leave that up the your imagination.