Get Dirty by Gretchen McNeil Page B

not single.”
    Olivia remembered Bree, sacrificing herself for their safety, and felt instantly guilty. “How is she?”
    “Don’t know,” John said. “I only saw her for like twentyseconds before a gorilla named Olaf dragged her back inside the house.”
    “The Deringers have a gorilla?” She knew they were rich, but that seemed excessive.
    John blinked. “No.”
    “Oh.” What was he talking about? Had John been hitting the pipe with Shane White and his burner friends?
    “Look,” John said. “Can you just tell me what the hell is going on? I’m pretty sure Amber thinks we’re dating now. She even forced me to give her my cell number.”
    Olivia sighed. Clearly, he wasn’t just going to play along without asking questions like she’d hoped. “Fine. But you have to do something first.”
    He looked at her sidelong. “You’re not going to hit on me too, are you?”
    Ew. “No.” Then with a quick exhale, Olivia thrust her hand forward. “Grab my wrist and repeat after me.”
    “Am I going to have to give up my firstborn?”
    She so didn’t have time for this. “Just do it!”
    Without another word, John grasped Olivia’s right hand with his left, and then she did the same, creating a two-person version of the DGM square.
    “ I, Olivia Hayes, do solemnly swear, no secrets—ever—shall leave this square .” She squeezed his wrist. “Your turn.”
    John grinned wickedly. “Do you guys seriously do this?”
    “It looks cooler when there are four of us,” Olivia said, narrowing her eyes.
    “I believe you,” he said. “Just having a hard time picturing Bree holding hands.”
    The fifth-period warning bell rang. “Hurry up!”
    “Sorry.” John cleared his throat. “ I, John Baggott, do solemnly swear . . . ” He paused. “Um, what was next?”
    “No secrets—ever—shall leave this square.”
    “ No secrets—ever—shall leave this square ,” he repeated. “Happy?”
    “Thrilled.” She dropped his hand and took a step closer. “Amber and Rex were with Ronny the night he died.”
    “What?”
    Olivia pressed her finger to her lips. “Shh!”
    “Right.” John shook his head, as if dumbfounded by the news. “Why haven’t you gone to the police?”
    “Um . . .” That was a longer story than Olivia was prepared to explain. “We don’t have any proof,” she said instead, “that Amber and Rex were involved in his death. We don’t even know for sure what they were doing with him that night. Just a guess.”
    John inhaled deeply. “Which is where I come in.”
    “Exactly.” Thank God John was on the ball. The less she had to explain, the better. “I’m pretty sure they were trying to bribe Ronny with one of Amber’s dad’s fancy Rolexes. If we can find out where the watch is now, we might have the evidence we need to prove Bree’s innocence.”
    “So you think if I make goo-goo eyes at Amber, she’ll spill her guts to me?”
    It sounded so much lamer when he said it. “I’m hoping.”
    “I’ll do it. But only because this is going to help Bree.” Hebegan to walk away, then paused and turned back. “Speaking of, any message you want to send to her? They’ve confiscated her cell phone and I’m guessing she doesn’t have internet at the moment.”
    Olivia caught her breath. “You’re going to see her?”
    “That’s the plan.”
    “How are you going to get past the gorilla?”
    John patted his backpack. “You leave that to me.”
    As Olivia grabbed a piece of paper she wondered what, exactly, John had in his bag. Bananas? Tranquilizers?
    She folded it in thirds, and handed it to him. “Don’t read it.”
    “I won’t.” John raised an eyebrow. “Will you be expecting a response?” he asked formally.
    Olivia sighed. “I certainly hope so.”

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE
    HarperCollins Publishers
    ..................................................................
FIFTEEN
    BREE WASN ’ T SURE HOW LONG SHE ’ D BEEN CRYING. HER chest had