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distorted, bloody face. You could see in G-Dogg’s pitiful, raged eyes, as they stared at the crooked cops, that he’d had his share of dealing with the tough local police department.
    Evan cried out, “I hope you guys are happy! G needs to be taken to a hospital, not a precinct. We gotta go help him.”
    She got no argument from any of us on that. My line sisters and I got back into the car and followed the two police cars with blue lights flashing on both. I was driving a little too fast trailing the police car, but I was upset.
    Teddi said, “Slow down, Hailey. I know you’re hot. I’m mad, too. The cops were clearly out of line back there. However, you can’t get a ticket. Stop following their cars like this. We don’t wanna go to jail, too, do we?”
    â€œLook, if we don’t stand for something, we’ll fall for anything,” I told her. “I’m the one who said to call the police. I’m the one who wanted justice and expected it would be done. Then those cops, who are racist and nasty for whatever reasons, who took us backward and not forward, are going to be held accountable for their actions. Calling us some kids who can’t do anything—we’ll show them. Shoot, I can’t even find my cell phone.”
    â€œIt’s right here in your purse,” Teddi said as she handed it to me. “What are you doing?”
    I said, “We need to call everybody we know and tell them to meet us here at the station. And somebody needs to call the TV crew.”
    It was two in the morning, and I felt bad waking Covin up. No, I didn’t feel bad at all. I knew he had to get up. I needed his help, and when he heard what I had to say, he showed himself once again to be the man I admired. He met us at the police station with about forty students strong.
    We started chanting, “The police are wrong! The police are wrong!”
    Our outraged group kept getting louder and louder. When the television crew showed up we were even more boisterous and demanded a difference. We were interviewed and showed them the videotape of the beating. The news crew and reporters went inside and got answers. We waited and would not go away.
    When the news crew came back out, it was evident they were with us and believed we weren’t blowing smoke. There was a large fire ablaze in the police department. The anchor woman I recognized from TV admitted someone was trying to cover up what had really happened. Evan and I pleaded with her that we could not let that happen.
    The TV woman, Lysa Ford, said, “I’m sure we’ll see some action in our favor. This department cannot take another racial incident.”
    Covin went into the station. He assured Evan everything was going to be all right. Whatever his idea was, I was moved that he cared enough to try to help.
    About thirty minutes later, Covin came out of the building smiling. The police chief and the four officers who were involved followed. Ms. Ford rushed up to the chief with her microphone. The chief announced that the four officers were going to be suspended without pay, pending an investigation. The officers passed us and looked severely disturbed.
    The ring leader who had called us kids looked at us and said, “We know that guy. You all want us suspended, but we’re only protecting the neighborhood.”
    Close enough to read his name badge, I said, “Officer Cloud, now you see we are not just some kids with no voice. I’m the first to admit that guy is no saint. But the way you treated him was not right. You are supposed to uphold the law. Now, like you wanted the guy to pay, you’ll have to pay.”
    He looked away. I hadn’t meant to sound so cruel. Passing back to him the anger he’d made me feel wasn’t healthy.
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    An ambulance arrived, and G-Dogg came out of the precinct in handcuffs and was escorted to it. Evan fled to his side. Like a gnat that wouldn’t