Chapter 8
Luis introduced the band on Friday night, which made him feel very proud. We kicked off with a very appropriate song ‘The Boys are Back in Town’ by Thin Lizzy and Brandon was doing his best Phil Lynott impersonation. The home crowd gave us a warm welcome and it was good to see that the feelings of resentment were no more. It was becoming a habit of mine since the Martinez incident at Albany Prison, to have a quick look out into the audience as we started to play. This time I spotted Mitch sitting in the front row between Warden Ellis and Governor Williams. Now I was really convinced that something was happening and it bugged me throughout the concert. It was also making me feel nervous for some reason.
The concert finished and the crowd continued to whistle and applaud. Warden Ellis came up on stage to quieten things down and to announce that a surprise barbecue had been laid on for everyone outside.
‘With your help we have created an important milestone in the history of juvenile rehabilitation, now it’s time to celebrate, so get yourselves outside and start eating,’ he shouted.
‘How cool is that, free barbecue food?’ said Josh as he took off his guitar and handed it to Luis like he was some roady.
‘Hey, put this away yourself, Josh,’ said Luis and he gave it back to Josh.
‘More food eh Josh, remember that waistline,’ Brandon said as we walked off stage kidding with Josh, who thankfully was not the sensitive type.
‘Well what are you waiting for?’ Luis asked as he ushered us off stage.
The barbecue gave the members of the band a nice opportunity to catch up properly with our other friends and to relax after spending the past week on the road. I helped myself to food and drinks while I looked around at some of the other faces. I could see their smiles and knew that every inmate at Mount Hood had been working very hard towards their rehabilitation. We deserved a second chance in life, but I had no idea just how big a chance we were about to be offered.
Jordan wondered if perhaps the secret discussions with the Governor had been about the possibility of opening another youth correction centre similar to Mount Hood, but she was way off the mark. I spotted Governor Williams mingling amongst the crowd and shaking hands as he made his way towards us. I was half expecting him to announce an award for the most valuable inmate of the year. He stopped when he reached Luis, who was standing beside us eating a chicken wing.
‘Could I have a word please Luis with you and the band members when you’ve finished eating?’ The governor asked quietly.
‘Absolutely Governor Williams, we’ll see you in 20 minutes if that’s OK?’ Luis said.
‘That’ll be fine Luis thank you,’ the governor replied as he continued to mingle.
‘Right finish your food and straighten your uniforms, the governor wants to see you,’ said Luis.
We lined up, stood to attention and asked why, but Luis was still refusing to tell us what this was all about.
‘You’ll just have to wait and see,’ said Luis.
‘You might want to wipe that barbecue sauce off your chin Josh before we see the governor,’ Molly suggested as she pointed to the blob beneath his lip. Josh wiped his chin on his sleeve like a typical boy.
‘Lovely,’ said Molly in disgust.
We followed Luis to the warden’s office, where Mitch, the governor and Warden Ellis were waiting inside. It was all very strange and we still had no clue what was going on.
The Governor spoke first and formally reintroduced Mitch as Lieutenant Mitchell Carter from the Washington State Troopers. We already knew who Mitch was, so why the formalities? I thought. The governor went on to explain. It seems Mitch had come up with the idea of creating a special youth police unit which would be known as ‘Teen Cops.’ My mouth was wide open with shock at this point and I looked over at my friends to see their reaction. It was pretty much the same. Mitch took over to fully explain his crazy idea.
Brandon, Josh, Jordan, Molly and I would be released from Mount Hood on a special warrant. After completing police training we would be relocated to Long Beach Washington and placed under Mitch’s guardianship. The Teen Cops unit would not be the usual type of police unit, more a specialist undercover team. The idea was for us to travel undetected as members of a band, a band still without a name I might add. Mitch came up with the idea to use the band as a cover when he watched our performance at Springfield Prison, hence the secret meeting with the governor soon after.
The Chief of Police for Washington State, Chief Garrett Kelly, who was Mitch’s boss, had pledged his full support for the new unit. They wanted a team of officers who were street smart and could blend in with the local teen population. That was us. The warden and Governor Williams had also given their support to this crazy scheme. At this point I did have to wonder if it was a joke, but was afraid to ask.
‘Although I’ll be sorry to see you all leave, I know the work you’ll be doing will be of paramount importance to the youth community in Washington State and indeed across the country,’ said the warden.
‘But there is a catch,’ he added with a grin.
‘Screw up just once in any unlawful way and you’ll all be sent straight back either to Mount Hood or worse, split up across Juvenile Centres in different states to serve your full sentences. Do I make myself clear?’ said the warden.
‘YES SIR,’ we answered.
‘Well are you in or out?’ Mitch asked.
‘This is a big decision for us and we need some time to think it over please,’ Brandon requested.
‘I need to leave in 30 minutes for an important fundraising event. Take this time to discuss it,’ the governor sternly responded.
Surely this wasn’t long enough to make such a big life changing decision but it was all we had.
‘Wow, this is totally weird. What if we encounter danger, what happens then?’ Jordan asked.
I was busy gloating over the fact that I was right, something big was being planned.
‘Yes OK Scott you were right, now get over it,’ said Brandon.
Jordan did have a valid point and what if we did end up in a dangerous situation? We certainly had a whole bunch of questions that needed answers, but the clock was ticking. Although we weren’t opposed to the idea in principle, after all it would provide us with a fast track to freedom; it was the fear of danger that was the big worry. The alternative was to serve the remainder of our time in Mount Hood and not be shot at, which did sound a little more appealing right now. Josh preferred this option.
‘Man up,’ I said hoping he wouldn’t retaliate.
‘Do you think our families have been told?’ he asked, but this was a question for Mitch.
Molly said she had hoped we’d try to pursue a career in music when we got released, but this would have to be put on hold if we became undercover cops. Time was ticking and with only a few minutes before Governor Williams had to leave, we needed to make a decision one way or the other. Brandon volunteered to speak for the band when we returned to the meeting.
‘Have you made a decision?’ Governor Williams asked.
‘Yes sir, but we have some questions first,’ Brandon replied.
The governor nodded and said ‘Go ahead.’
‘First of all, what will happen to our criminal records?’
‘Police Chief Kelly has agreed to wipe your records clean from the moment you sign up to the unit, but screw up and you know what happens,’ Mitch replied.
‘And before you ask, you’ll receive intensive police training at the FBI Training Centre in Quantico, Virginia,’ Mitch added before Brandon had a chance to ask the question.
‘Will we have to carry guns?’ Brandon asked.
‘Yes Brandon, you will be carrying the usual standard department issue revolver, plus a little extra fire power,’ Mitch replied with a glint in his eye.
‘Oh and naturally you will receive a wage each month, but I need to agree an appropriate amount with the police chief,’ he added.
‘Double sweet,’ said Josh.
&nbs
p; ‘Luis will stay with you at all times, not only to keep you on the right track, but to also nurture your music career,’ said the warden.
‘What about our parents. How much do they know?’ Brandon asked.
‘Governor Williams has already briefed them on the outline details and further information will be provided strictly on a need to know basis, for obvious security reasons,’ said Mitch. It all sounded very James Bond like to me.
‘OK now if that’s it for questions, are you in or out?’ the governor asked abruptly as he started to walk toward the door.
Brandon looked at us for approval and we nodded, ‘OK we’re in.’
‘Excellent news, the warden and Mitch can take care of the finer details. I wish you the best of luck with your new venture. I’ll check in with Mitch from time to time and hopefully I won’t see any of you back at Mount Hood,’ said Governor Williams as he paused by the door.
‘Thank you sir,’ said Brandon and with that the governor was gone.
Mitch asked how we really felt about the idea and I said that we were still in partial shock, which was the truth. ‘Think of this as your get out of jail card and believe me you’ll have earnt it by the time you’ve completed police training,’ said Mitch, which sounded ominous.
Luis had a question.
‘When we’re out on the road playing gigs etc, do we get to keep the ticket money?’ It was a cheeky question I know and Luis glanced over at the warden as he asked it.
‘That’s a good point Luis. Part of the money you make will have to be used to pay for food and accommodation, but you can keep any profits,’ Mitch replied.
‘Think of it as having two jobs, cops by day and rock stars by night,’ said the warden.
‘Come on guys it’ll be fun,’ said Luis trying to be positive.
‘No one outside of these four walls and that includes the other inmates, can ever know about the plan,’ said the warden and we nodded in agreement.
The warden would concoct some story about how we received an early parole for good behaviour and convey this to the inmates, in case anyone did miss us. Due to the top level secrecy of our assignment, we would be leaving for the FBI Training Academy before breakfast. Mitch suggested we return to the barbecue to enjoy the rest of the evening with our friends. We shook Mitch’s hand and left still in a daze about what had just happened. For the rest of the evening we laughed with our friends till the music stopped and the food ran out. We would certainly miss some of the more colourful characters including the guards. It was better that we didn’t linger too long so that no one would be the wiser about our imminent departure.
We arranged to meet at the main exit around 7.30am before going our separate ways to start packing. As far as belongings go, none of us really had much to pack, but this time alone would give us an opportunity to say our own personal goodbyes to Mount Hood. Brandon said goodbye to the basketball court; Josh had one final look in the mechanics garage and gymnasium; the girls had a final swim while I fixed a laptop that needed attention in the IT lab.