Dylan
Hey, Mr. Dempsey. I was kind of hoping that Blair wouldn’t do anything to make you upset. Or that I wouldn’t see her doing it.
Luke
Unfortunately, the chance that Blair will start making good choices is zero.
Dylan
It’s not like I know her really well or anything, but I feel kind of bad telling on her.
Ben had told Luke that Leah could relate so much to Luke’s desire to stay up to date on Blair’s behavior that she’d told her brother, Dylan, she’d add thirty minutes to his curfew if he’d help out. Dylan had agreed, but now it sounded like he was getting cold feet.
Luke
I understand, but I promise you that you’re doing the right thing. I’m trying to keep herout of trouble, but I can’t do that without information.
Scrolling dots answered, but no words came through.
Luke
Blair won’t know who’s keeping me in the loop. You’re doing this for her own good. Plus, it’s not terrible to have a later curfew.
Dylan
You don’t know how bad I want a later curfew. My sister makes me come home super early.
Luke
I’m glad this will work out for us both. Where’s Blair and what is she doing?
Dylan
She’s smoking in the alley behind the shops on Sunset Road, near the school.
Luke
Thanks, Dylan. I appreciate it.
Luke didn’t have to wonder which location the kid meant. When he’d been Blair’s age, he’d smoked in the same alley behind the same shops.
Fifteen minutes later, Luke parked near the mouth of the alley and followed the sound of conversation and the smell of cigarette smoke. He found Blair sitting with three boys and one girl on the curb—all of them holding cigarettes.
His anger shot to a ten. The twin girls were supposed to have made up for the stress and devastation he’d cost his parents. They were supposed to be sweet, obedient, close with their parents.
It seemed like Hailey was a good little soldier, doing her part. But Blair? No. He was taking her behavior personally because she’d let him down.
“We’re leaving,” he stated when he drew within hearing range of the group.
“No thanks.” Her smug smile said,You can’t make me go.
“Who are you?” one of the boys asked. The kid’s sneer informed Luke that he didn’t care about anything and wasn’t threatened by adults. Luke knew the mindset well. It was the type that would land the kid in jail one day.
“I’m her brother,” Luke answered.
That got their attention. “The guy from the earthquake?” the girl asked.
“Yep,” Blair replied. “This is the brother who lived, though he does a pretty good job of acting like he’s dead.”
