Playing with Fire by Melody Carlson

around here and see if this is even viable.” She makes a note of something, and suddenly I'm worried that she might set me up in one of those “unmarked” police cars that are so obviously police cars. I almost say this, but that might sound insulting since she drives one. Besides, I really am jumping the gun here. It's possible this whole surveillance idea will be shot down by the end of the day.
    We talk a little more. She asks about Zach, and I tell her that everything's fine. I do this for several reasons: one, I don't want to sound ungrateful for her intervention and her brother's rehab facility; two, I don't want to admit that Zach isn't doing that well; and, tinree, I'm hoping things will change, and I'm trying to give my brother the benefit of the doubt.
    That's great, Samantha. I was really praying for him last week. I'm glad to hear it's going well.”
    So we say good-bye, and I go back outside to where Olivia's waiting for me. She's talking on her phone but finishes up as I get in the car.
    “That was Cameron,” she says as I fasten my seat belt.
    “What's up?”
    “I told him I'd come back to the band.” She starts the car. “But with the understanding that I am totally out of there if drugs or alcohol are being used.”
    “And he's okay with that?”
    “He said he was.”
    “I didn't see Jack at school today. How about you?”
    “Trust me, I was keeping a lookout for that dude. And I didn't see him at all until the end of the day. I noticed him standing out by the west exit, smoking a cigarette.”
    “Maybe he's just keeping a low profile.”
    “He was with that new girl, the one with the motorcycle jacket, the electric blue bangs, and attitude.”
    “She's in my journalism class,” I tell her. “She transferred here from Madison last month. Her name is Felicity, and she acts like she has an attitude, but I think she's just shy.”
    “Sorry,” says Olivia. “I didn't mean to sound like a snob.”
    “I've been trying to be nice to her. She seems a little depressed, and it can't be easy switching schools. But I'm disappointed to hear she's hanging with Jack.”
    “Well, they looked happy together.” Olivia sort of laughs.
    I don't respond to this. It's just as wrong for me to judge Jack as it is for Olivia to judge Felicity. Sometimes I feel like a pathetic example of a Christian.
    “Maybe Felicity will be a good distraction for Jack. I'm sure he's seriously ticked about being dropped from the band. I just hope he's not mad at me personally.”
    “You might want to take Alex up on his bodyguard offer.”
    She laughs. “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. But maybe Jack and Felicity will fall madly in love, and he'll forget all about his botched music career.”
    “I still wonder if it was Jack who put that Ziploc bag in your car,” I say as she stops for a light.
    “He seems the most obvious suspect.”
    “Unless it was Garrett…” Okay, I feel sort of bad to say this out loud, but it's too late.
    “Not
Garrett,” she says quickly. “I cannot imagine that sweet boy using something as hideous as meth. It's just so wrong.”
    I try not to take offense on behalf of Zach now. But I do get quieter.
    “So is Ebony putting you on a new case?” she asks after driving a few blocks.
    “Not exactly. Mostly we were just catching up.”
    “Oh…”
    I don't go into any sort of explanation. And I do feel kind of bad for shutting her out, but I can't figure any other way to handle it. I'm so used to telling Olivia everything, and suddenly it feels like I can't tell her anything. I mean, I can't talk about the task force or my desire to do surveillance work. And I don't really want to talk about my concerns for Zach, since that might make it seem like he's a failure, confirming her prejudices regarding meth addicts.
    So I just keep my mouth closed until we get to my house. Then I thank her for the ride and go inside to find Zach and Tate sitting in the family room watching a DVD that looks