Man Leaves After Card Declines, Returns With A Cop

A Command

“I’m sorry… it’s declined,” she had stammered — not half an hour ago. But the man was back. And this time, he’d brought someone with him. A cop stomped up to the counter and motioned for the man she’d asked to leave to come over.

Then, he slammed something onto the counter and commanded her to do something that she’d never expect a cop to ask of her.

A Job Like Any Other

Alicia Danielle worked in a downtown pawnshop and as such, she figured she’d seen it all already. While counting the cash for the various items people sold she had seen every emotion from sadness to desperation, and even greed.

She had witnessed poignant moments such as a mother reluctantly pawing the last family heirloom she had to provide for her family. Moments like these hardened her heart. It was the only way to cope with the job, and she didn’t know where she’d be without this job.

Strange People

As with anyone who has been at a job for a long time, you start to be able to read people when you see them, knowing what they want before they speak to you. While many different people came to the pawnshop, Alicia noticed they generally fall into two categories.

There were those who came in out of desperation, they were the down and out. Then there were the others. The vultures. These were people who came in just looking for a good deal. The officer approaching her didn’t seem to be either, however.

Experience

Alicia grew to know the regulars in the store during her years there. She knew exactly how they would behave. She knew which of them would invariably try to haggle over the price and which just took it as is.

Living in a small town also meant that she knew just about everyone who walked into her store. Knowing what they would want and would do. However, a man she didn’t know walked in one day, and something told her to watch him. Turns out she was right to do so.

Unfamiliar Face

She watched as this stranger headed straight for the back of the store. Something about it sent off alarm bells. She instinctively moved behind the cash register. She knew what she had to do at the first sign of trouble.

She knew that even if she pushed the panic button, whatever he did would probably be over long before the police got there, but she would press it nonetheless. The one thing she never considered however, was that the policeman might take his side and not hers.