I'm not talking

[Aria Campbell]

Matthew Cole

Aria, or Sticks as she was more commonly known as, let out an annoyed sigh as she finally gave up trying to free her right hand, which was currently handcuffed to the armrest of the chair she was sitting in. Aria had slipped up while delivering a package for a gang, which led to the police bringing her in.
Not knowing what else to do, Aria looked around the place she was sitting and waiting in. She was deemed a low priority if the teen had heard correctly and as a result, nobody had talked to her yet. That didn't bother Aria too much though as she didn't want to talk to the police. She just wanted to get out of here and back to doing her jobs.
Letting out another sigh, Aria crossed her arms as best as she could before shifting her gaze to the door so she could keep an eye on people coming in and out.

[Matthew Cole]

Matt walked in after just having returned from a call out and his eyes habitually scanned the room. Slow days were rare and today wasn't one of those slow days, everyone was coming and going as usual and there was paperwork and reports on most every desk. Matt leaned against the desk that was considered his, perching on the corner slightly as he half stood half sat with his legs crossed as he quickly scribbled a few lines on his report for the call out he had just responded to. Once he signed his report he stood up straight and for the second time his eyes fell on the girl handcuffed to his co-worker's chair. He guessed she looked around sixteen or seventeen or so and with the look on her face coupled with her crossed arms she looked like she had the age appropriate attitude to match. Then his co-worker in question started walking by with the three or four files he was dealing with at once. Matt flagged him down before he passed by, "Hey, man." He nodded towards the teen, "What's with the girl?" His co-worker glanced back at her before looking back at Matt, "I brought her in about an hour ago." He pulled a sheet of paper out of the files in his arm and looked over it, she was a small fish and the facts of higher priority cases had taken presidency in his mind, "Stopped on suspicion of possession, with intent to distribute. She was brought in for questioning but I haven't had the chance to talk to her yet. Besides I figured letting her stew for a while might teach her a lesson." Matt nodded. He dropped his reoprt in his out tray then folded his arms over his chest, "You want me to talk to her?" He offered. A case involving drugs and an 'at risk' teen was the kind of case he gravitated towards, and he knew Davis had his hands full right now. Matt was compassionate at heart and always tried to give deserving offenders a break when it was appropriate, especially the young ones. He had a heart for teens who was heading down the wrong path and did what he could to give them a second chance or a leg up in the world, even if he did dress his kindness up with a laid-back, tough guy facade by using nonchalant statements like 'Don’t make me shoot you, there is too much paperwork involved.' A fact that was well known around PD, so Davis didn't need anyone to twist his arm to get him to jump at the offer. If Matt wanted to volunteer to deal with an uppity teen then he was more than welcome. "Knock yourself out." He said as he handed Matt the sheet of paper and promptly headed off. Matt read over it quickly. The girl was sixteen, in the care system and facing drug charges. A combination that came as no surprise. He sauntered over to her with a cool but in control demeanor. Unlike Davis he didn't have the white shirt and tie look. Instead his outfit was more street, with a t-shirt and jeans and his badge hanging around his neck. "Miss Aria Campbell." He said as he put the sheet of paper down and pulled out the chair the other side of the desk taking a seat, "I'm Detective Cole." He rested his loosely grasped hands on the desk and looked at her, "I understand you were found with a package earlier." He began, keeping his tone neutral and judgment free. "You wanna tell me the story?" Tag:Aria Campbell . ~*~

[Aria Campbell]

"Miss Aria Campbell"

Aria frowned, looking up at the detective. She wasn't expecting him to know her name, though Aria shouldn't be too surprised. Detective Cole had probably gotten her file from child services.

"I understand you were found with a package earlier."

That much was correct. Aria was found with a package earlier. It had come from one of Chicago's gangs and while the teen wasn't one hundred percent sure about what was in it, she could take a wild guess and assume it was drugs. It had been drugs in the past, and it wouldn't change suddenly.

"You wanna tell me the story?"

This part caught Aria by surprise. She figured that detective Cole would already know, given that he had spoke to the police officer that brought her in. She wasn't expecting a chance to explain what happened or to give her side of the story.

It wasn't much of a story though. Aria had gotten up this morning and had headed over to one of the gang's local spots. She was a familiar face to most of the members, having helped out with a few jobs prior to this one. One of the members had the package Aria was supposed to deliver and they gave it to her.

What Aria hadn't suspected would happen is a police officer being nearby. Aria had tried to run, which probably wasn't one of the smartest things to do, but the officer had caught up to her and brought her in.


Instead of saying all this though, Aria just glared at detective Cole. "I'm not talking" she said before leaning back into her chair. She was stubborn and didn't trust very easily. She had walls that she kept up and very rarely brought down. On top of that, Aria had a problem with authoritative figures. In short, getting the teen to talk or open up about anything, especially why she was sitting here, was going to be difficult and Aria liked that. She just hoped that the detective would give up soon and let her leave.

tagged for Matthew Cole

[Matthew Cole]

Matt practically held back a smile when Aria told him she wasn't talking and leaned back in her seat like that. He had seen it a hundred times, she wasn't the first youngster to give him that attitude in the hot seat and she sure wouldn't be the last. Experience had taught him that nine times out of ten the attitude was just a facade, a wall to hide behind because underneath the bravado and stubborness was just a scared kid. Usually a scared kid who had a troubled home life and had was making some poor choices because of it. Thankfully Matt had developed a knack for breaking through that wall, not every time though, some kids was just beyond help. But the ones he was able to reach often came round and took all the help they could get, half of them even ended going from tough guy act to breaking down in tears in front of him.                He nodded in response to her reply. "Fair enough. You have the right to remain silent." He said, not giving any reaction to her attitude.     "But I'm have to ask you a few questions." He turned the sheet of paper he had over and wrote 'Not talking.' on it before he slid it over to Aria. Showing her that she wasn't the first person to repeat that phrase to him and that he wasn't going to be annoyed that easily. "And you have two choices. You can either be very mature and answer me." He tilted his head ever so slightly and looked her in the eye, "Or you can just hold up your sign. Save your breath if you're gonna take the stubborn and immature route." He doubted it would be that easy, but still he was making a point with the sign and he hoped it would work. She could play hardball if she wanted but he wasn't going to give up. He looked at her, gently clasping his hands on top of the desk once again, "Does the package belong to you?" He knew the options was that it was hers, she was carrying it for someone else, or she had stolen it. "Do you know what is inside the package?" He asked, his voice renaming level and patient.   Tag: Aria Campbell. ~*~

[Aria Campbell]

"But I'm have to ask you a few questions"

Aria shrugged at this. She had expected as much. She stared at the sign that detective Cole had made, trying to figure out if he was being serious or not.

"And you have to choices. You can either be very mature and answer me. Or you can hold up your sign. Save your breath if you're gonna take the stubborn and immature route"

Aria held the detective's gaze for a bit before breaking eye contact and choosing to look at the table instead. In her opinion, remaining quiet was the best option right now. As long as she stayed quiet, then there was no way to determine how involved she was in the incident.

"Does the package belong to you?"

Aria rolled her eyes when she heard this. Were they really going to go through with this? Wordlessly, the teen held up the sign before letting out an annoyed sigh. Apparently they were going to communicate like this, something that Aria found ridiculous. Aria had already told detective Cole that she wasn't going to say anything. So why was he asking questions if he knew she wasn't going to respond? It didn't make any sense to her. Almost subconsciously, Aria started tapping her fingers on the armrest. She was growing impatient and just wanted to be released so she could go home. Was that too much to ask for?

"Do you know what is inside the package?"

The teen stopped tapping her fingers at the question. Of course she knew what was in it. It was some sort of drug, though Aria wasn't too sure which kind. There were so many types nowadays that the sixteen year old couldn't bring herself to keep up with them.

Unable to remain silent any longer, Aria shifted in her seat and looked up at detective Cole. "What is up with you?" she practically snapped. She was growing annoyed and frustrated and wanted nothing more than to get up and leave this station. "I say I'm not going to talk, and yet you still ask questions. Questions that you probably already have answers to. I'm not some stupid kid, okay? I know that you've probably already searched the package or are in the process of searching it."

Aria was short tempered, even she knew it. Aria could recall many times where her temper got her in trouble with various families. It didn't take much to get her worked up like this. "And if you've searched the package then you already know. So why are you questioning me? Just go ahead and charge me with whatever. I don't care. And if you haven't searched it or couldn't find anything then you should take your own advice and save your breath. Stop asking me questions and just let me go, okay? Just let me go"

By this point Aria was tightly gripping the chair's armrests, and her shoulders were squared back in an attempt to appear intimidating. It was clear that the teen was angry and didn't like how things were going, but under all her anger Aria was scared. She didn't know how much the police knew, if they knew anything, or what she could be charged with. All those unknown variables scared her. Aria wasn't about to admit it though. She didn't want to come off as weak.

Matthew Cole

[Matthew Cole]

At first Aria looked at Matt but her eyes soon turned to the table instead. As expected she didn't answer his questions, instead holding up the sign and displaying her annoyance through eye rolls and tapping fingers. Yep, Matt had acted out this scene more times than he had bothered to count and this girl was following the script to the letter. "What is up with you?" He looked back at the teen when her eyes lifted from the table and he had to stop a little smirk from forming on his own face. That didn't take long at all. His plan was working faster than he had hoped. He remained quiet and listened as she went on about not being a stupid kid and that she knew they would be searching the package before she asked (or demanded) to be let go. Matt looked her in the eye as she squared herself up and tried to make herself look intimidating. The sixteen year old trying to look intimidating sitting opposite the muscular 172 pound detective was almost laughable, and her tough act would have been cute if it wasn't a mask to cover her fear in such a serious situation. A mask Matt could spot a mile away and his sympathies went out to teen, not that he let that show. After all the girl was only sixteen and was heading down a very bad path and was facing some potentiality serious charges, how could he want anything other than to help her come to her senses before she threw her life away? Matt had seen too many 'at risk' kids toss their life away...or lose their life even. "I know you're not a stupid kid." He replied calmly once she had finished, "And I'm asking you questions because it's my job. I need to know the truth." He said, leaning forwards a little more in a relaxed manner. "I don't think you realize the charges you are looking at." He told her. "Now I don't think you're stupid and I don't think you're a bad kid, I just think you made a bad decision somewhere along the way." Truth was Matt was glad they had only found her with the package and not a gun. This was the first time she had been picked up by the cops so there was still a lot he could do the help her...IF she would let him. "You're facing possession with the intent to distribute. That's a class A misdemeanor, which means you're facing up to 1 year in Jail." He explained. Doing her the courtesy of being honest and talking to her like a young adult and not like a little child. Though the idea was to try and put the wind up her too. "Now this is you're first offense and I don't want to just slap a pair of cuffs on you and throw you into the system, having a record will affect the rest of your life if you realize it or not. But I need something." He told her. He needed her to co-operate in some way so he had something he would work with. He needed to see he was right, that she was a good kid who had made some poor choices and not just a rotten apple. He was willing to be patient and do the song and dance in order to get her to come around if he needed to. But if it turned out that she was just a bad kid then he would throw the book at her and let her go to jail if that's what was for the best. But looking at her he couldn't see it coming to that. "Now you can sit there and you can huff and puff. Or you can make this easier for yourself." He gave her the choice again. "I just want the truth." He said with a nonchalant shrug. Whether or not that would get through to her at all he didn't know. Tag: Aria Campbell . ~*~

[Aria Campbell]

Aria didn't say anything while Matt talked. She lowered her head when he mentioned jail time. The teen knew she wouldn't be able to handle jail, not to mention all the problems it would cause.

"Now you can sit there and you can huff and puff. Or you can make this easier for yourself. I just want the truth"

Aria bit her lip as she thought about the options she had. If she didn't say anything or cooperate then she'd end up in jail. That wouldn't help anyone in this situation, especially her. Aria's social worker already wanted to remove the sixteen year old from her current foster mother's care.

Speaking of her foster mother, Aria couldn't bear to think about what this would do to Rene. The woman was gentle, kind, and patient. She loved Aria, and the teen knew that Rene already worried enough when Aria didn't come home for days at a time. If Aria ended up in jail, her foster mother would worry even more or worse, it would kill her. Not to mention how disappointed she would be, and then surely Aria would be removed from her care after getting out of jail.

Matt also had a point about her record. Aria had no priors, but if this got put on her record and if she ended up in jail then placing her would be difficult. Chances are, the sixteen year old would end up in some group home and that wasn't something she wanted.

All of this could potentially be avoided if Aria just spoke up and told her side and explained everything. It wouldn't be that hard, but it would mean actually opening up. It wasn't like the teen had much of a choice though. Staying silent would cause too much trouble but speaking up wouldn't.

Knowing what she had to do, Aria let out a sigh of defeat. "The package isn't mine, it belonged to one of the gangs. They needed someone to deliver it and help distribute it. They knew me because I've helped in the past, so they trust me I guess. I agreed to help out and they agreed to pay me"

Aria couldn't believe she was saying all of this. She didn't like people knowing but if it got her out of trouble then she was willing to do it. "And before you ask, no. I'm not a member of the gang, or any other gangs. I just help them out from time to time. It's easy and generally safer because I'm not a member and I don't have any record or priors. My name isn't anywhere except with CPS, and I guess here now too. And even then, I'm careful about who knows my name. I usually go by an old nickname when around the gangs, Sticks" she explained, before continuing.

"Anyways, because I'm not an official member and I have no priors, I can usually get the task done, get paid, and head to wherever I'm-I can head home" Aria continued. She almost let it slip that she didn't always stay at Rene's and that most nights were spent on the street. It was information that wasn't needed.

"As for what was in the package, that's simple. It was some illegal drug, I don't know what kind because I didn't ask and I don't bother keeping up with the different kinds. When I picked it up, I didn't realize there had been an officer nearby and you can guess what happened next" Aria finished, motioning to the handcuffs that kept her in the chair.

The walls that Aria had up previously to protect herself were practically nonexistent now. There was no point in keeping them up because she had just explained everything. Subconsciously, Aria wrapped her arms around herself to try and protect herself. She didn't appear to be a stubborn teenager anymore, but instead she appeared more vulnerable as she realized just how much trouble she could be in for everything that happened.

Letting out another sigh, Aria looked back up at Matt. "That's what happened, and that's all I know, I promise"

Matthew Cole

[Matthew Cole]

Matt gave Aria a moment as she bit her lip and thought about her options. Looking at her he could tell his huffing and puffing about jail time was going to work and he was right. Matt listened and jotted down a couple of very short notes as as she told him the package was not hers and that she was just delivering it for a gang as she had done in the past. Usually everyone denied ownership of whatever it was they had been caught with, but in this case Matt believed the young girl when she said it wasn't hers. He was glad to hear that she wasn't a member of any gang. Trying to keep her away from that life would be much easier for him than if he had to try and get her out of a gang. He knew it didn't mean getting her away and keeping her away from that life would be easy, but it would be easier at least. He listened and nodded as she explained how the gangs paid her to make drop offs because she didn't have a record. It made sense and didn't surprise him. He just wished young people like her realized that helping gangs like that was the gateway to getting sucked into joining them and ending up with a record...or worse. He didn't shoot her any judgmental looks when she said she knew she was delivering drugs. Knowingly delivering drugs didn't put her in the best position but he was just glad that she was telling him the truth and that was all he wanted. That he could work with, she was co-operating and that he could and would use to help her. Once she had finished he looked across at her. Her body language had completely changed and she was hugging herself with an air of vulnerability about her. The walls had been deconstructed and she realized how much trouble she could be in over all of this. And seeing that she actually seemed to care about how much trouble she could be in let Matt know she was far from being past the point of help. "Thank you for being honest." He said, looking over at her. He stood up and walked around to the arm of her chair, taking a key out of his pocket and uncuffing her wrist before taking his seat again. He leaned on the table again and looked over at her, "Now distributing isn't something I can just look over but I can cut you a deal." He informed her, his tone relaxed but professional. "If you can give us some names, tell me who hired you. Tell me what you know about the gang I can let you go without pressing any charges." He offered . Tag: Aria Campbell        . ~*~

[Aria Campbell]

Aria gave a small nod when Matt mentioned making a deal, though she frowned when he mentioned her giving up information about the gang. It wasn't that Aria didn't have the information, because she did have some. It was the fact that she would be snitching on some of the members, which wasn't necessarily a good idea. Aria had heard about what happened to people who talked to the police about the gang's dealings.

Still, what Matt was offering was a second chance. If Aria gave up the information, then he wouldn't press charges and Aria's records could remain clean. She could essentially walk away from this and forget the whole mess had happened. Aria could get back to her life, and she would be a fool if she didn't take the deal.

"I don't know a lot of members, because I tried to avoid hanging out with them unless it was for business" Aria began, which was the truth. She didn't spend a lot of time around the others outside of doing a few jobs. "But I do know a few people"

"I was hired by a guy named Jaxon, but he usually goes by Jax" she explained. "I've also known him the longest. He was in the system for awhile, like I am. I think it was my second or third home, but we lived in the same house for like a week before his dad was granted custody. That was about three years ago and I hadn't seen him until a couple months ago when I bumped into him. We got to talking, and Jax found out I was looking for a job so he offered me one. As far as I'm aware, he's the only one who knows my actual name"

Aria felt a little guilty giving up Jax, given that he had offered her the job in the first place. However, she pushed those feelings aside and continued going. "There's also Nikki. She can seem intimidating and appear harsh, but she does care. She helps distribute drugs and makes sure everything runs smoothly. I've even crashed at her apartment a couple of times"

Giving up Nikki was hard, as the young woman hadn't done anything to Aria except given her a place to stay when she was too scared to go home in fear of being taken away or if she didn't want to stay on the streets that night. However, if it meant Aria could walk out of the station then it needed to be done.

"Finally, there's a guy named Flynn. I don't remember much about him because I only met him once, and that was in passing. We didn't even talk, but I asked Jax about him once. He said that Flynn was kind of like the muscle and that I didn't want to be on his bad side" Aria explained with a shrug.

Aria tried to rack her mind for more names, but that's all she could remember. She had met other members, and talked to a few. However Aria couldn't remember any of their names. "There are others, but I can't remember there names. I try not to associate myself with them too much"

The next part was a little harder. Aria knew a little about what the gang did, but given that she wasn't an official member she was left in the dark when it came to a lot of things. Still, the sixteen year old had picked up on a few things, and that would have to do.

"I don't know a lot about the gang's actual dealings. Since I'm not an actual member. they don't tell me a lot. However, I think a lot of their income comes from dealing drugs. They're always having people help out on that font and I'm not the only nonmember who has offered to help on that front" Aria explained. "And I think they may be trying to buy or sell firearms as well but I don't know. The only time I heard anything about it was when I was at Nikki's apartment. I was on the couch, and I guess she thought I was asleep because she was in the kitchen talking on the phone with something. She kept mentioning different guns and like prices. I wasn't about to ask her about it so I just kept quiet"

After she finished talking, Aria refused to look at Matt. Instead, she focused on her hands and tried to fight the guilty feeling that was appearing. A part of Aria knew that giving them up was the right choice, but another part felt bad about it. After all, Jax had given her a job and Nikki had allowed Aria to stay in her apartment whenever she needed to. She knew what they were doing was illegal and needed to be stopped, but that didn't stop the guilt. They had trusted her, and Aria had betrayed that trust just so she could avoid jail.

For a brief moment Aria considered trying to warn Jax and the others, but she quickly tossed that idea aside. It would involve having to admit to snitching which wasn't a good idea. On top of that, Aria would end up breaking the deal if she did and that would just lead to her being in jail.

Aria briefly glanced up at Matt before quickly looking back down at her hands. "Can I go now?" she asked, except it was more like a mumble. She was definitely acting different from the stubborn and short-tempered teenager earlier. It was like Aria had given up fighting Matt on this. "I told you everything I know"

Matthew Cole

[Matthew Cole]

Matt listened and jotted down names as Aria told him about Jax, Nikki and Flynn. It was good to hear that she tried not to associate with the gang, but it wasn't so good hearing that the gang was recruiting other non-members. It didn't come as a surprise but that didn't mean it wasn't sad to hear. Matt worked hard to keep young people away from the gangs and it never felt nice when he saw them still being drawn in. But a deeper frown formed on his face when Aria went on to talk about the guns. It was common knowledge at PD that the gang was dealing drugs, but hearing that they was moving into weapons was new information and it wasn't good news. It was dangerous enough work for the police involved in tackling the gangs on their drug dealings, but add weapons to the mix and the danger increased significantly. Though that was a concern that Matt kept to himself as he saw how hard Aria was finding it to look at him. "Not yet, I still have a few things I need to ask you." He replied when she asked if she could go now. Matt tipped his head, lowering his eye line to try and meet hers, "Look I know this isn't easy and I know you think you're ratting out your friends, but those guys aren't your friends." He said in a gentle tone. "They used you to make their deliveries so that you are the one that takes the wrap in event of a bust." He continued, breaking it to her as kindly as he could. Matt straightened his head, "Look around. You're here and where are they?" He asked. "They're out there letting you take the wrap for all of this."  He pointed out. It might be a painful truth but it was one he had to get Aria to see if he was going to get her away from the gang culture she was being drawn into. "I need you to write down everything you heard Nikki say about the guns; The types, prices, meeting spots, times and names, anything." He slid a pen and notepad towards her, giving her time to write down any details she could remember before he continued to question her. "And is Jax the one who gave you the packages and delivery addresses?" He asked, determining how the gang's system worked. Tag: Aria Campbell        . ~*~

[Aria Campbell]

"Just because they aren't here doesn't mean they don't care" Aria protested, though she was trying to convince herself of that more than she was trying to convince Matt. "Nikki opened her apartment to me when she didn't have to. She let me crash with her on several different occasions. If she didn't care, then she wouldn't have done that. Nikki cares, I know she does"

It hurt to think about the fact that the others didn't care about her and as much as Aria tried to deny it, she knew Matt was right. Aria was here, and she was taking the blame while Jax and the others were probably back home, glad it wasn't them who were being questioned.

She frowned when Matt handed her the pen and notepad, glancing up at the detective. For a brief moment Aria considered refusing to write down anything, but she knew that wouldn't help matters any. If Aria wanted to get out of this, and she did, then she was going to have to cooperate. "I don't remember much about that night. It was a few weeks ago, and I was tired. I wanted to do nothing but go to sleep" Aria explained as she looked away again and started writing down what she could remember of that night. It was a blur, but Aria could remember some details.

She remembered the prices, ranging anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to several thousands. Meeting spots were also easy to remember as Aria could recall the street names, most of which were in the gang's territory. She could also remember the times because the sixteen year old remembered finding it odd that delivering between midnight and two in the morning was weird, up until she heard Nikki mentioning weapons.

The names of the weapons was harder. Aria didn't know a lot about weapons, and some of them sounded weird. She did the best she could though. "I should've reported it the moment I learned about what was going on. However, I would've had to admit to helping with drug deliveries not to mention I would've been turning my friends in. Of course I'm ratting on them now, so that didn't do any good" she said, her voice sounding bitter as she slid the notepad back over to Matt.

Aria gave a small nod when Matt asked about Jax. "Yeah. He gives me the packages and tells me to go. Sometimes I get the information from Nikki if Jax is busy, but it's usually Jax. We thought that would work better given we used to live together. We figured we could use that to our advantage without anyone questioning it because we could just claim that we were catching up on old times"

Leaning back in her seat, the sixteen year old looked up at the detective briefly before looking away again. Aria knew she was in over her head with this and she was scared. She didn't know what to do, or what would happen. "Detective Cole," Aria began, still refusing to look up at Matt. "What's going to happen to me? I don't want to go to jail"

Aria knew that Matt had said he wouldn't press charges as long as Aria told him what she knew, and she had done that. However, that had been said before the information about the weapons dealing came out. Aria wasn't sure if that was going to change anything. She also wasn't sure if Matt was going to stick to his side of the deal and not press charges. Aria wanted to believe that the detective would uphold his side of the deal, after all Matt had been honest this entire time. However a part of Aria was still doubtful because she didn't trust easily.

Matthew Cole

[Matthew Cole]

Matt looked at Area as she tried to defend her belief that those people were her friends. He could understand why she didn't want to admit to herself that they was using her, or at the very least were leading her down a very dangerous path which wasn't something true friends was supposed to do, it hurt and it was a hard truth to face. When Aria added that Nikki had let her stay over as a defense for the friendship Matt looked at her sympathetically and let out a light sigh, "That might be true." He started, not categorically denying that Nikki did care in her own way. "But you're 16, Aria. You shouldn't be staying out all night and crashing on couches. It's not safe and it's not good for you." He said, pointing out that Nikki wasn't actually doing her any favors by letting her stay. He didn't want to take away what little sense of friendship Aria had, but he had to point out the truth and try to talk some sense into her, for her own good. Though if she'd take on board a word of what he was saying he didn't know. "You should be safe at home, talking back and doing homework or whatever. Not running drugs and hearing about gun deals." His tone wasn't lecturing, in fact it was laced with genuine care and even a small amount of sad defeat. Matt had witnessed enough teens like Aria falling into bad habits and throwing their life away. He had grown up around it in his neighborhood and he had witnessed his share of it on the job too, and he genuinely cared about those teens. Aria was still just a kid and he genuinely wanted her to be safe and have what little childhood she had left instead of handling drugs and getting herself arrested. "I don't remember much about that night. It was a few weeks ago, and I was tired. I wanted to do nothing but go to sleep" "That's ok. Just write what you do remember." He told her, resting on the table with his arm as he waited for her to finish. "I should've reported it the moment I learned about what was going on. However, I would've had to admit to helping with drug deliveries not to mention I would've been turning my friends in. Of course I'm ratting on them now, so that didn't do any good" The bitterness in her tone didn't go undetected, but then neither did the fact that she was co-operating. It went a long way in showing that she wasn't too far gone and that there was hope that she might not end up in jail or in the hospital. It all depended if she would eventually come to her scenes enough to keep out of trouble. "You've reported it now, so that's the main thing." Matt pulled the notepad towards himself when Aria pushed it to him. There was a few hefty prices on there as well as a number of gun names that indicated the deal was a lot more than someone selling a knocked off handgun out of the trunk of their car in some alleyway to make a few bucks. No it was bigger than that and Matt had a feeling that Aria had no idea what her friends were into. "Yeah. He gives me the packages and tells me to go. Sometimes I get the information from Nikki if Jax is busy, but it's usually Jax. We thought that would work better given we used to live together. We figured we could use that to our advantage without anyone questioning it because we could just claim that we were catching up on old times" Matt turned his head from the notepad, glancing at Aria for a moment as she looked down and a little smirk raised one side of his mouth. Oh she was a smart one alright, and she could do very well for herself if only she put it to good use. Even though she was cooperating he could tell she was still scared and unsure. She was still just a kid and she was in over her head. "Detective Cole," "What's going to happen to me? I don't want to go to jail" Matt looked at her, his naturally angry looking features making him look somewhat stone-faced, "You're not gonna go to jail." He told her in a neutral tone. He had no intention of putting her in jail the second she started cooperating. Not that he was gonna let her know that. "Not this time anyway." He added pointedly, implying she might if she got herself arrested again. He just hoped being here this time was enough to teach her a lesson, but then again life didn't always work that way. "You've cooperated so we're gonna let you go like I said. I just suggest you stop running their stuff for them or you might not be so lucky next time." He leaned back into his chair very casually, interlocking his fingers and resting his hands on his stomach, "And if you want an alternative, I can offer you another way to make some cash that won't land you in a jail cell." He offered. "I can fill out some paperwork, put you on the books and make you my CI." He watched her as he spoke, reading her as he made her the offer. "You know what a CI is, right? Confidential informant. You give me information and you get paid for it." Now to see if she was running drugs for the money or if that was just an excuse. Tag: Aria Campbell . ~*~

[Aria Campbell]

"But you're 16, Aria. You shouldn't be staying out all night and crashing on couches. It's not safe, and it's not good for you" "You should be safe at home, talking back and doing homework or whatever. Not running drugs and hearing about gun deals"

Aria let out a sigh, knowing Matt had a point. She hated that he was right, but there wasn't much she could about it. Aria should be home, talking and laughing and asking for help on homework. That wasn't her though, and it hadn't been for awhile. "I haven't exactly had a home since I was thirteen" Aria pointed out. Sure, Aria had lived with other families and in other houses, but they weren't really homes. She also had her current placement, and as much as Aria liked her foster mother, it still wasn't home because Aria hardly spent time there and when she did, there was the constant fear of being taken away. No, the last time Aria had a home was before her parents' deaths.

"And as for the rest, I'm finished with school so there's no homework to do" Aria explained. She figured saying she was finished with school was better than saying that she had dropped out. Aria had been informed several times of how that decision was one she would regret. "and there's far worse places I could end up then on someone's couch, and at least I'm not doing drugs"

She may help deliver drugs, but Aria herself refused to do them. They were dangerous, and Aria heard enough stories about people overdosing because of being addicted to drugs. The sixteen year old was determined to not become another overdosed victim.

"You're not gonna go to jail. Not this time anyway"

Aria gave a small nod, relaxing a little when Matt mentioned how she wasn't going to go to jail. Aria looked up at Matt with a guilty expression on her face when he implied that she could end up there if this happened again. Aria wasn't stupid. She knew she was lucky in the fact that Matt was willing to give her a second chance. She also knew that if this happened again, then Aria may not be as lucky.

"I just suggest you stop running their stuff for them or you might not be so lucky next time"

Aria frowned at this. Stopping wouldn't be easy as they were used to her jumping at the chance to help out. However, if she could make up excuses and slowly help out less and less, then maybe Aria could stop altogether. If Aria went that route though, it would still be dangerous. "I understand" the sixteen year old replied.

"And if you want an alternative, I can offer you another way to make some cash that won't land you in a jail cell." "I can fill out some paperwork, put you on the books and make you my CI"

Aria leaned forward in her seat a little, suddenly interested. She didn't say anything, but Aria didn't have to. Matt was offering her an alternative way to make money that didn't involve breaking any laws.

"You know what a CI is, right? Confidential informant. You give me information and you get paid for it"

She bit her lip as she thought about it. The offer was tempting, and it sounded nice. The only thing was, Aria wasn't too sure about giving up information. She could end up ratting people out, and Aria tried her best to avoid that. 'Try' being the key word as Aria had just gave up some of her friends. With that thought in mind, would there really be much of a difference if she agreed to be a CI?

"I'll do it" Aria finally said, looking at Matt. "I'll be your CI"

Matthew Cole 

[Matthew Cole]

<iframe width="5" height="4" style="position: absolute; width: 5px; height: 4px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 259px; top: 32px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_17649656"></iframe> <iframe width="5" height="4" style="position: absolute; width: 5px; height: 4px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 195px; top: 0px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_84327765"></iframe> <iframe width="5" height="4" style="position: absolute; width: 5px; height: 4px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 0px; top: 146px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_69144463"></iframe> <iframe width="5" height="4" style="position: absolute; width: 5px; height: 4px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 195px; top: 146px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_5878521"></iframe> Matt just looked at Aria as she said that she didn't exactly have a home and hadn't since she was thirteen. It wasn't the first time he'd heard this story and it wouldn't be the last by far. Kid goes into the system, gets moved from home to home and ends up getting involved in the gang and drug culture. It was an all too common story that Matt heard from the kids he got sitting in front of him at PD. All he could do was try and help the ones that wasn't too far gone. "Well you've been placed with a guardian right? My point is you've been given a safe place to stay and you should be there." He replied. "And you're right, there are worse places to stay than on a couch, and if you're not careful you're gonna end up there. Even if you don't think you will." He added, with a knowing tone. He had seen it happen and he knew from experience that one thing led to another and it often didn't end well. "And you can sit there and tell yourself that you'll never use all you want, but it doesn't work that way. You know how many girls your age have sat there telling themselves they'll never use? Girls that I end up arresting a couple of years later for turning tricks so that they could buy a hit?" He finished. He frowned and shook his head a little when Aria went onto say she had finished school. He didn't need to be a genius to know that her 'finishing' school at only sixteen years old meant that she had dropped out. "Well I'm not gonna sit here and lecture you on the importance of a proper eduction. I don't think you'd listen and besides you've already heard it anyway. But homework or not you should be inside at a reasonable hour. I don't wanna be picking you up and dragging you down here in the middle of the night, as a suspect or as a victim." He said casually, with a slightly jaded attitude. The streets could be dangerous and unforgiving at night. He cared of course, but it came wrapped in a layer of casualness and bravado. Matt watched as Aria contemplated his offer, the way she bit her lip let him know that she was actually thinking about it at least and was weighing up her options. "I'll do it" "I'll be your CI" Matt gave a simple nod, "Good. I'll get the paperwork." He replied. Then stood up and walked off to get the appropriate paperwork. On his way back he was stopped by his CO and was stood talking to him for a couple of minutes, both of them glancing at Aria a couple of times while Matt justified his reasoning in making the youngster a CI. But his blunt manner of reasoning worked and Matt soon came back over and sat back down. He put the paperwork in front of Aria, explaining what was involved and what she'd have to do as a CI, "Any questions or second thoughts?" He asked before he handed her the pen to sign on the dotted line, giving her the opportunity to change her mind or ask questions if she had any. Tag: Aria Campbell . ~*~

[Aria Campbell]

[attr="class","Ariatitle"]

[attr="class","Aria"]

[attr="class","Ariabox"]everything's made to be broken, i just want you to know who i am

[attr="class","Ariamain"]

"Well you've been placed with a guardian, right? My point is you've been given a safe place to stay and you should be there"

Aria shrugged, knowing Matt had a point. Her current placement wasn't bad, and Aria knew she should probably stay there more often then she did. "I do stay there. It's not every night I end up on someone's couch. It's just on nights when it gets too late and I don't want to head home"

Okay so that happened more then Aria cared to admit. She probably saw her friend's couch or the streets more then she saw the bed at her foster home. Aria couldn't even recall the last time she had actually stayed a whole night there. A week ago, two weeks? Point was, that bed remained vacant and unused more than half the time.

"You know how many girls your age have sat there telling themselves they'll never use? Girls that I end up arresting a couple years later for turning tricks so they could by a hit?

She slouched in her seat a little when Matt mentioned it. Aria didn't need to be told an exact number, she knew it had to be a lot. However, the sixteen year old firmly believed she wouldn't end up like that. "You don't have to worry about me becoming one of them. I don't like needles, and I've heard the stories" Aria explained. "Someone gets addicted to drugs, and they keep doing them until one day they end up overdosing."

"But homework or not, you should be inside at a reasonable hour. I don't wanna be picking you up and dragging you down here in the middle of the night, as a suspect or a victim"

Aria gave a small nod. She didn't bother pointing out that it could be any officer that picked her up if she was out late. Whether Matt was the one that found her, or if it was another officer he would still find out and then they would be back in this same situation.

She knew how dangerous the streets could be, especially at night. Aria was lucky nothing had happened to her yet, but luck could only last for so long. Still, the sixteen year old was scared to remain home for too long. She liked it there and didn't want to be taken away, especially because Aria didn't know what the next home would be like. So in her eyes, staying on the streets or on a friend's couch was far safer. It meant her social worker didn't know where she was and therefore couldn't pick her up.

Looking up at Matt, Aria could tell that he cared. He wouldn't be here, offering her a deal if he didn't. She didn't know how much he cared, but he did. Aria supposed the least she could do was put forth some sort of effort. "Look, I can't promise I'll always be inside at a reasonable hour. But I can promise to try" she explained. It definitely wouldn't be easy, but then when had anything in her life been easy?

Besides, if need be, Aria could always get up early and head out. She wasn't a morning person, but Aria supposed she could change that.

Aria watched as Matt left to get the paperwork, only to be stopped by someone on his way back. They kept glancing over at her, and Aria quickly figured out that they were talking about her. She didn't know what for exactly, but Aria guessed it had to do with Matt wanting to make Aria his CI.

She relaxed when Matt came back over and sat down with the paperwork. The sixteen year old nodded a couple of times while Matt explained what she would have to do as a CI.

"Any questions or second thoughts?"

Aria shook her head as she took the pen from Matt. "No. I understand what I'm getting myself into" she explained before signing her name on the paperwork.

Aria looked at Matt as she handed the pen back to him. "Thanks for doing this, detective Cole"

She wasn't stupid. Aria knew that Matt didn't have to do any of this. He could've very easily just charged her and sent her to jail. Yet, Matt didn't and while Aria didn't necessarily show or say how grateful she was for it, she really was.

Matthew Cole

[attr="class","Ariabox2"]all this time i was finding myself, and i didn't know i was lost

[attr="class","Ariacred"]redd of adoxography

[newclass=".Ariatitle"]margin-top:20px;width:361px;text-align:left;font-size:39px;font-family:Montserrat;color:#A346FF;[/newclass]
[newclass=".Aria"]padding-top:8px;margin-top:-20px;width:350px;height:515px;background-image:url('https://cdn.nickpic.host/images/pQY48G.jpg');border-left:5px solid #A346FF;[/newclass]

[newclass=".Ariabox"]width:315px;padding:10px;padding-top:0px;font-family:montserrat;color:#9B988E;font-size:9px;border-bottom:1px solid white;[/newclass]
[newclass=".Ariabox2"]margin-top:-5px;position:justify;width:315px;padding:10px;font-family:montserrat;color:#9B988E;font-size:9px;border-top:1px solid white;[/newclass]
[newclass=".Ariamain"]margin-top:10px;padding:15px;width:305px;background-color:white;height:414px;color:black;overflow:auto;font-size:10px;opacity:0;-webkit-transition:height .5s ease, opacity 1s ease, overflow 1s ease .5s;
-moz-transition:height .5s ease, opacity 1s ease, overflow 1s ease .5s;
-ms-transition:height .5s ease, opacity 1s ease, overflow 1s ease .5s;
-o-transition:height .5s ease, opacity 1s ease, overflow 1s ease .5s;
transition:height .5s ease, opacity 1s ease, overflow 1s ease .5s;[/newclass]
[newclass=".Ariamain:hover]opacity:.8;-webkit-transition:height .5s ease, opacity 1.5s ease, overflow 1s ease .5s;
-moz-transition:height .5s ease, opacity 1.5s ease, overflow 1s ease .5s;
-ms-transition:height .5s ease, opacity 1.5s ease, overflow 1s ease .5s;
-o-transition:height .5s ease, opacity 1.5s ease, overflow 1s ease .5s;
transition:height .5s ease, opacity 1.5s ease, overflow 1s ease .5s;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Ariamain b]color:#A346FF;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Ariamain::-webkit-scrollbar]width:3px;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Ariamain::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background:#4646FF;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Ariacred]font-size:8px;letter-spacing:2px;[/newclass]
[Googlefont="Montserrat"]