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The same age as my daughter. Officer Jake glimpsed into the rearview mirror and saw the bedraggled mess slumped against the door in the backseat of his cruiser.

Coincidence or no coincidence, this girl was going in. Someone covered with blood and dirt and scared of the cops was someone who needed to be helped.

Maybe more than just help, Jake thought, wondering if she was related to the latest emergency call. A neighbor on 93rd had called in about a possible break in--she'd heard glass shatter and some yelling. Two cars were enroute at that moment, but he'd heard nothing yet.
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"You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney. You have the right to ..." The officer droned on and on. Mia sat across the table from him, looking down at her cuffed hands, barely hearing his memorized speech while a movie replayed itself through her mind.

....................................

"We're out of milk, Mia. Run down to the market would you," Her mom juggled the baby as she rummaged through her purse for a few bills.

"I'm meeting David in half an hour, mom. I'll be late."

"Family before social life," her mom chided.

Mia slammed the door as hard as she could.

.....................................

"The accusations against you are clear."

Mia's thoughts sprang back to the present.

"I recommend you contact an attorney." The officer raised an eyebrow. "You won't be getting out of this very easily, young lady. Taking the innocent life of another person is about as grave a crime as one can commit, and being just a teenager doesn't make it any less a sin."

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