Steamed 5 (Steamed #5) Read Free Page A

disappear.
    We arrived at the police station and spoke to an officer. We
were told that Jared was in the process of being booked. Link informed the
officer that he was considering dropping the charges on Jared but would like to
speak with him first. The booking ceased for the time being. We were led back
to the holding cells and it just about broke my heart to see Jared behind bars.
How had it gotten to that point?
    “You guys can talk through the bars, we'll be outside the
door,” the officer said before leaving.
    Link and I stood there awkwardly before Jared. He looked a
little rough around the edges; he had been through a lot that day. I could tell
that he was sobering up. I was grateful, as it would have been difficult to try
to reason with him while he was high on coke. I needed Jared to be as sober as
possible or we would be right back where we started and I didn't want that. He
needed to listen to reason and hopefully we could all be done with this.
    “Jared, I hate seeing you like this. Are you alright?”
    “Yeah I'm okay, I just feel like shit. My wrists are raw
from the handcuffs and I have one hell of a headache.”
    “Yeah I bet.”
    “Thanks for being there today, even though it must have been
hard for you.”
    “Jared, I love you but I don't understand what's been going
on lately. I can't help you if you don't let me in.”
    “I'm sorry.... fuck...it's just so messed up. I'm sorry. I
don't even know what to say right now.”
    “Jared this has to end...today. Or things are going to get
much worse for you. You could lose everything.”
    He looked up at Link with glazed eyes. He looked completely
burnt out, and my heart ached for him.
    “I'm sorry man, I've always been jealous of your talent and
I was proud as hell when you were working for me at my place. I had one of the
best chefs in the world in my restaurant. When you left and opened up at
restaurant that would be in direct competition with mine, well it really hurt
me. Not only did I lose a great chef but we were also competing. It drove me
nuts man.”
    Link looked shocked to hear what Jared had to say.
    “Look Jared, I didn't do any of this to hurt you, that
wasn't my intention at all. I had no idea that you felt that way. I have a lot
of respect for you, and I learned a lot while working for you. But I had the
same dream you did; I just wanted to have something of my own. I know that we
are competing but Jared, your restaurant was doing fine and it will always be
successful. People know there is good food. I'm not taking anything away from
you.”
    “I know. I just let the jealousy take over me. It almost
ruined my life. I don't know why I did everything that I did; it all just spiraled
out of control. I'll make it right, I promise.”
    “That's all I needed to hear Jared, all is forgiven.”
    The look of relief on Jared's face almost made me cry.
      “Thank you
Jared,” I said.
    I kissed Link on the cheek, while I was grinning ear to ear.
“Thank you sweetheart,” I whispered.
    I blew a kiss to my brother and we left the holding cell.

 
    Chapter Four

 
    We quickly made our way to the front desk to speak with the
booking officer about Jared.
    “How did your little meeting go?” the officer said with a
hint of sarcasm. I didn't like the look of the guy at all. He was kind of a
jerk.
    “It went great. I would like to drop the charges against
Jared. I no longer need you to hold him. It was all a misunderstanding.”
    “Well that's just fantastic, but I'm afraid we can't let
Jared go.”
    “Why not?” Link and I both said in unison.
    “Well even if you want to drop the charges, it's not as easy
as that.”
    “Why not?”
    “I can drop the slander and libel charges, but I'm afraid
that doesn't do anything for the drug charges he has against him.”
    I slowly closed my eyes. Shit!
    “Are you serious?”
    “Link, the guy had drugs all over his apartment. We are
charging him on possession of controlled substances, there is