he was brought to the station , where most of the officers treated him with amused respect . he was listening carefully to their steps on the wet pavement fading away , turning his head enough for a sly look back . his words hit me like a mac truck . it came from everywhere inside him , a banshee cry born of confusion and pain . if you are caught out after hours , you will have to be dropped from the squad . but why was he strapped to the board and not on the junk ? 