Page 115 of The Unraveling of Julia

Julia nudged Courtney and nodded behind them, staying silent so she couldn’t be heard on the bug.

Courtney understood, checked her outside mirror, and said into the phone, “Bruce, can I call you back? Great, bye.” She hung up.

The traffic light turned green, and Julia fed the car some gas. She wondered if the cruiser was following them, then knew how to find out. The route to the next school was straight, but she steered onto a side street, then checked the rearview.

The cruiser wasn’t behind them. Garages and a metal fabricating facility lined the street. She reached the corner, and just as she was about to turn, she spotted the cruiser at the far end of the block.

Holy shit.Julia turned right at the end of the street.

Suddenly the cruiser accelerated in pursuit, its siren bursting into deafening sound. Its high beams flashed, signaling to them. Its light bar began blinking.

“Whoa!” Julia steered to the curb and braked, trying not to panic.

“They’re pulling us over? I don’t like this.”

“Me, neither.” Julia told herself the cops couldn’t hurt them. It was broad daylight in a busy Tuscan town. Heads turned on the sidewalk. People stopped and watched, covering their ears. Mechanics in soiled jumpsuits came out of the garages. Mothers hurried their children away, a protective hand on their back.

Thecarabinierishouted in Italian from the cruiser, his voice mechanically amplified.

Julia’s mouth went dry. “We don’t understand! We speak English!”

Twocarabinieriemerged from the cruiser, in black uniforms with thick black leather belts with guns, nightsticks, and radios. The cop who was driving was tall and lean, and the other was short and wide-set. Both were young, their expressions grim under the patent-leather bills of their caps.

Julia tried to think through her nerves. “Courtney, can you see if there are papers in the glove box?”

“No, just put your hands up.” Courtney raised her hands, and Julia did the same just as the tall cop arrived at her window.

“Out of the car!” the tall cop shouted. “Hands against the car! Hands against the car now!”

Julia scrambled out of the car, frightened. “What did I do?”

“Hands on the car! Now!” The cop grabbed her by her waist, whirled her around, and shoved her against the car. She caught herself just before she made impact.

The cop started running his hands up and down Julia’s body. He was feeling her up, not patting her down. Horrified, she startled, pulling away.

“Stand still!” The tall cop shoved her against the car again, feeling the side of her breasts.

Julia submitted, mortified. Tears sprang to her eyes. The short cop was with Courtney, who stood across the hood of the car, distraught. The same thing was happening to her. The crowd on the street talked behind their hands.

“Go sit inside and wait!” the tall cop barked when he was finished, leaving her shaking.

Julia reached for the car door, flung it open, and scrambledinside the car. Courtney did the same, her eyes wide with fear. They exchanged looks but said nothing.

The cops cut the siren and turned off the light bar. The crowd on the street began to disperse, returning to their day. The mechanics went back to the garages.

Julia’s heart kept pounding. Ten minutes passed, then twenty. Courtney didn’t say anything, and Julia tried to recover.

Finally the tall cop got out of the cruiser, shut his door, and strode to Julia, thrusting a hand through the open window. “You were speeding. Pay the fine.”

“What… fine?” Julia asked, bewildered and scared.

“Pay,now.” The tall cop wiggled his fingers. “The black bitch, too.”

Oh my God.Julia reddened, disgusted at the slur. Courtney swallowed, wild-eyed. They both grappled for their purses, got out their wallets, and grabbed as many euros as they could, fumbling to hand them over as fast as possible.

The tall cop took the bills and stuffed them in his pocket. His menacing gaze shifted back to Julia, his eyes glittering under his black cap. “Leave today, bitch.”

“What?” Julia blurted out, shocked, but the tall cop was turning away and heading back to the cruiser.