Scarf arrest M a r t h a r a d c l i f f e Martha Radcliffe Ovi ebooks are available in Ovi/Ovi eBookshelves pages and they are for free. If somebody tries to sell you an Ovi book please contact us immediately. For details, contact: ovimagazine@yahoo.com No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior permission of the writer or the above publisher of this book An Ovi eBooks Publication 2024 Ovi eBookPublications - All material is copyright of the Ovi eBooks Publications & the writer C Scarf arrest Scarf arrest Martha Radcliffe Martha Radcliffe An Ovi eBooks Publication 2024 Ovi eBookPublications - All material is copyright of the Ovi eBooks Publications & the writer C Scarf arrest I t was a crisp fall afternoon when Officer Nick Mallory, a cop with a tough-as-nails exterior and a soft heart buried somewhere underneath, got a call to Ainsley’s Boutique. Ainsley’s wasn’t the kind of place you usually saw trouble. The store was the epitome of luxury, with sleek, high-end displays and a floor-to-ceiling glass window where the newest scarves practically begged to be admired. It looked like a place where people came to buy their over- priced dreams ...or, as Mallory suspected, their over- priced regrets. “Nick, thank heavens you’re here,” Mrs. Waverly, the shopkeeper, called from the front door, her tone as cold as the autumn breeze. “We’ve got another thief in the store.” Martha Radcliffe Mallory wasn’t even surprised. There was some- thing about the boutique that seemed to invite trou- ble. Maybe it was the exquisite merchandise that made you want to swipe it just to feel what wealth tasted like. Or maybe it was because people like Mrs. Waverly, with her air of superiority, could make any- one feel like they didn’t belong. Mallory glanced at the kid standing by the scarf rack, eyes wide, hands trembling, and looking like he wished he could shrink into the plush carpet beneath his feet. The kid was thin, practically swallowed by his oversized hoodie, and looked so out of place in Ainsley’s that Mallory half-expected him to ask if this was a lost-and-found for runaways. “Hey there,” Mallory said, trying to soften his voice as much as he could. He wasn’t known for being par- ticularly warm, but today he was feeling merciful. “What’s your name, kid?” The boy, who looked barely old enough to drive a bike, didn’t seem to trust his voice. His lips moved but nothing came out at first. He glanced up at Mal- lory, his face pale as a ghost. “Charlie... Charlie Henderson,” the kid stammered, and Mallory could swear he heard the faintest quiver in his voice. Scarf arrest “Charlie, huh?” Mallory said, eyeing him carefully. “And what do we have here?” He gestured toward the soft teal scarf clutched in the boy’s shaking hands, almost like it was his lifeline. “I... I didn’t mean... I just...” Charlie’s voice trailed off, and he looked down, biting his lip. “It’s for my girlfriend. I ...I didn’t know what else to do.” Mallory raised an eyebrow, giving the scarf a clos- er look. It looked fancy, one of those scarves that cost more than some people’s rent. Mallory had seen enough of these types of things to know they weren’t cheap. “Your girlfriend, huh?” Mallory mused, leaning slightly closer. “So, you thought stealing this would make her like you more?” The kid’s eyes widened even more, and for a sec- ond, Mallory could almost hear the gears turning in the teenager’s head, trying to figure out how to say the right thing. Charlie looked like he’d been caught in a bad movie plot, the kind where the hero tries to steal something to prove a point but gets caught right before the final act. Charlie gulped, shoulders hunched. “I... I don’t Martha Radcliffe have any money,” he whispered, barely audible. “It’s our first month anniversary, and I wanted to give her something nice. I thought if I could get her this, she’d think I was... I don’t know, I guess... thoughtful.” Mallory couldn’t help but feel a little tug at his heart. He remembered what it was like to be young and stupid, thinking that grand gestures were the an- swer to everything. Back when he thought a leather jacket he couldn’t afford would make him look cooler in front of his first crush. Mallory sighed, his tough exterior softening just a bit. “First love, huh? Well, I gotta tell you, kid... I get it. I was dumb once too. Thought a leather jacket would make me look like James Dean. I ended up looking like a walking wallet instead.” Charlie let out a nervous laugh, but it was the kind of laugh you make when you don’t know whether to cry or run away. Mallory’s tone turned serious again as he placed a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “But you can’t go around stealing things. That’s not how you show someone you care. You know, a scarf like this, sure, it’s a nice gesture, but you’ve gotta earn the right to give some- one something like this. You can’t just take it.” Scarf arrest Charlie’s face dropped again. “I know. I just... I thought if I could do something special for her...” Mallory gave him a sympathetic look. “Kid, I get it. You want to impress her. You want to be that guy who gives the big gift. But let me tell you something: first love? First love is about trying hard, being hon- est, and not pulling stuff like this.” Charlie nodded, his eyes a little misty now. “I didn’t think it would be so wrong.” “You didn’t think at all, kid,” Mallory said with a half-smile, rubbing his temples as he thought. He was getting soft in his old age. “Look, I’m not gon- na arrest you, alright? This is your first mistake, but it’s a big one. Stealing won’t fix anything. And if you get caught, trust me, it’s not gonna impress your girl- friend. She won’t be swooning when she finds out you’ve got a record for stealing scarves.” Charlie’s eyes widened, relief flooding his face. “You’re not... you’re not gonna arrest me?” Mallory raised his hands in mock surrender. “No, not this time. But you’re going to learn something about respect. Respect for people, respect for your- self, and respect for what’s right. Understand?” Martha Radcliffe Charlie looked like he’d just been told he won a lot- tery. “Yeah! Yeah, I get it. I’ll... I’ll pay for the scarf somehow.” Mallory took a deep breath, then glanced at Mrs. Waverly, who was still standing there with a frown. “Well, how about I keep the scarf for now? It’s evi- dence, you know, for the case.” Mrs. Waverly shot him a glare. “Evidence? Are you kidding me? It’s a scarf!” Mallory grinned. “Hey, I’m just doing my job.” He turned back to Charlie. “But here’s the thing—let me give you a little help. I’m gonna keep the scarf for now, but I’m giving you something better.” He pulled out a crumpled wad of cash from his pocket and handed Charlie a fifty-dollar bill. “Go buy her some- thing. But... something a little cheaper than a scarf from an expensive boutique.” Charlie looked down at the cash like it was a piece of gold. “Wait... you’re... you’re giving me money?” Mallory nodded. “Yeah. It’s not a loan, kid. Just a little help to do things the right way.” Charlie’s mouth hung open for a moment before he found his voice. “I—I don’t know what to say. Thank Scarf arrest you, Officer Mallory.” Mallory smiled, a rare and genuine smile. “Just don’t mess it up, alright? A cheap scarf from a dis- count store is better than a stolen one from a place like this. Trust me on that.” Charlie looked at the fifty-dollar bill again, his eyes bright. “I’ll make it work. I swear, I will.” Mallory gave him a nod and then turned toward the door. “Alright, kid. Don’t let me see you here again. And if you ever think about stealing again, just remember—there’s always a cheaper way to get what you want. Now, go get yourself a proper anniversary gift.” As Charlie shuffled out of the boutique, Mallory watched him go, shaking his head with a grin. Ah, first love. What a mess. But it’s not all bad, I guess. Mrs. Waverly gave Mallory a look that could freeze lava. “You’re really just going to let him go?” Mallory shrugged, his eyes twinkling with mis- chief. “Well, yeah. He’s young. He made a mistake. Besides, I remember what it was like to do something dumb for love. And it wasn’t a scarf.” Martha Radcliffe II. Charlie sat slumped on the curb outside Ainsley’s Boutique, his arms wrapped around his knees, trying to appear small... smaller than the massive weight of the mistake he’d made. Officer Mallory stood in front of him, pacing back and forth with a look on his face that was a cross between exasperation and bemuse- ment. Inside, Mrs. Waverly had gone to make her phone calls, no doubt preparing to press charges, but Mallory was far from convinced that this kid, with his big eyes and his quivering hands, was a criminal mastermind. “Tell me something, Charlie,” Mallory said, halting in front of the teenager, “You’re telling me you’re this close to getting arrested for a scarf? A scarf, of all things?” Scarf arrest Charlie’s shoulders slumped even further, if that was possible. He looked like he’d already had a tough morning before this fiasco. “I... I didn’t think it’d be such a big deal, Officer. It was on sale, and I thought I could just sneak it out... surprise her, you know?” Mallory raised an eyebrow. “Surprise her? With a $150 scarf? You planning to steal her heart or just make her faint?” Charlie rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean to steal it... I just didn’t have the money. I wanted it to be special.” Mallory exhaled through his nose, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Here was this kid, probably more concerned about his first anniversary than most adults were about their mortgages, trying to get a fancy scarf for his girlfriend with zero con- sideration for the fact that a crime was being com- mitted. “Listen,” Mallory started, his voice softening, “First love, right? It’s complicated, I get it. You do all these things to try and make it perfect. But stealing a scarf? That’s a one-way ticket to ruining everything you’ve been trying to do.” Martha Radcliffe Charlie nodded vigorously, his face now flushed with embarrassment. “I know! I know! I messed up. I just wanted to make her happy, you know? I didn’t think it would end up like this.” Mallory chuckled and knelt down in front of him, so their eyes were level. “Alright, Charlie. You’re 13, you’ve got a whole life ahead of you. You don’t need to be stealing things for someone to like you. But, just out of curiosity, you have any idea how much that scarf is gonna cost you?” Charlie glanced down at the scarf in his hands, as if it might suddenly reveal the secrets of the universe to him. “Uh... $150?” Mallory smirked. “Yup. That’s about right. Now, tell me this. What else could you buy with $150? Hmm?” Charlie stared blankly, clearly not expecting this turn in the conversation. Mallory didn’t wait for an answer, continuing on. “I could take myself out to a fancy dinner with $150,” Mallory said, tapping his chin. “Maybe some steak, a nice glass of red wine, a dessert. And, you know what I wouldn’t do? I wouldn’t steal anything. And I’d still have enough to leave a tip for the waiter.” Scarf arrest Charlie blinked, looking utterly lost. “I... I don’t know what you mean.” Mallory threw his hands up, exasperated but amused. “What I mean is, you don’t need to break the law or empty your wallet to show someone you care. You don’t need a designer scarf to make an im- pression. You know what you really need? A bit of thoughtfulness. Maybe even a homemade card. I bet she’d appreciate that more than a fancy scarf.” Charlie’s face brightened a little. “A card? You think that’d work?” Mallory gave a rueful smile. “Kid, I’m telling you, first loves? They don’t care about the price tag. They care about the effort. The sincerity. You could give her a paper napkin with a handwritten poem on it and she’d probably think you’re the most romantic guy on the planet. You just gotta make it real.” Charlie’s eyes sparkled with a little hope now, his shoulders relaxing. “But... but what do I do with the scarf? Do you need me to give it back?” Mallory stood up, stretching his legs. “Nah, I’m gonna keep it. For evidence, of course.” He winked, and Charlie’s expression quickly shifted from relief to confusion. Martha Radcliffe “Wait, you’re... you’re gonna keep it? You mean you’re gonna take it?” Charlie’s voice cracked on the last word. “Yup,” Mallory said with a nod, “But here’s what I’m going to do for you. I’m gonna give you some- thing better.” Charlie looked at him with wide eyes. “Better than a $150 scarf?” Mallory reached into his back pocket and pulled out a crumpled wad of cash. He straightened the bills out and pushed them into Charlie’s palm, surprising the boy so much he almost dropped it. “Fifty bucks. It’s not much, but it’s more than enough to get you something nice. Something she’ll actually appreci- ate.” Charlie blinked at the money, as though it might disappear if he didn’t look hard enough. “Wait... are you serious? This... this is for me?” “Yeah, kid. Consider it a lesson. Don’t go spending all of it on one fancy gift though, alright? Get a cou- ple pizzas, maybe some flowers... Hell, you can even get her a scarf that costs less than half of that one. But don’t you dare steal anything again.” Scarf arrest Charlie stood up slowly, as though he couldn’t quite believe what was happening. “But... but you’re not gonna arrest me?” Mallory chuckled, shaking his head. “Arrest you? For a kid trying to impress his girlfriend with a scarf? Nah. But, I’ll tell you this, if you get caught doing something dumb again, I won’t be so nice next time. You don’t need to buy love with a bunch of fan- cy things. You’re only 13. Just... be yourself. That’s enough.” Charlie’s face broke into a grin so wide it could have knocked the wind out of anyone nearby. “I swear, I’ll pay you back, Officer Mallory. You don’t even know how much this means.” Mallory held up a hand. “Nah, keep it. Just promise me you won’t blow it on something ridiculous, like a giant teddy bear or a bouquet of roses bigger than her whole apartment.” Charlie laughed, the first genuine laugh Mallory had heard from him all day. “I promise. Thanks, Of- ficer.” Mallory patted him on the shoulder as he turned to leave. “Alright, kid. You’ve learned your lesson. But Martha Radcliffe remember, next time, go for a cheap scarf. They don’t have to be designer brands to mean something.” Charlie was about to respond when he stopped, suddenly serious. “Wait, what if I still get her the scarf? Just... the cheap one, I mean. You know, for the effort?” Mallory paused, then shrugged with a grin. “Eh. As long as you don’t get caught.” Charlie nodded enthusiastically and dashed off in the direction of a nearby corner store. Mallory stood there, watching him go, before looking down at the scarf in his hand. It wasn’t a bad scarf, actually. He could imagine it on someone... maybe Mrs. Waverly. Maybe not. Ah, first love, Mallory thought, shaking his head with a smile. It makes you do stupid things. But in the end, it’s the thought that counts. Scarf arrest III. The next day, Mallory was sitting in his squad car, parked just a few blocks from Ainsley’s Boutique, sip- ping on a lukewarm coffee that had long since lost its appeal. He was staring out the window, half-watch- ing a group of kids skateboarding down the sidewalk, when something caught his eye. A familiar figure was walking toward him, holding a small bouquet of daisies and wearing the most awkward grin Mallory had ever seen. “Hey, Charlie!” Mallory called, rolling down the window. Charlie froze mid-step, turning slowly to face him. His face was the picture of someone who wasn’t quite sure whether they’d just been caught again or not. “Uh... hey, Officer Mallory,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. Martha Radcliffe Mallory took in the flowers Charlie was holding, clearly not the same kid who had been on the verge of tears just a day before. “How’d it go with the girl- friend?” Mallory asked, leaning out of the window with a raised eyebrow, his tone more playful than anything else. Charlie’s grin widened, almost embarrassingly so, but there was an undeniable glow to his face. “It went great! I bought her the scarf from a different shop, way cheaper. And I took her to that pizza place you told me about. She liked it.” “See?” Mallory said, nodding sagely. “That’s what I’m talking about. You don’t need to steal to make someone happy. Just be honest and do what you can.” Charlie straightened up a little, puffing out his chest like a rooster. “Yeah, I figured that out. Thanks, Officer. You saved my... uh, my relationship.” Mallory chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. “Saved your relationship, huh? Well, that’s a pretty big job for a couple of daisies and a slice of pizza.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Tell you what, Char- lie, if you ever need advice on romance, you come see me again. I’ll tell you all about the real way to win someone’s heart.”