boyfriend?”
“Nate Mackenzie.” The officer with the note pad jotted his name down. I shifted nervously. I really hoped I hadn’t gotten him in trouble somehow.
“Did you know your brother was doing drugs?” The mustache officer asked.
“No,” I stated emphatically. “And just to be clear, there’s no proof he was doing drugs.”
The officer’s eyebrows jumped a little, giving away his personal doubt.
“According to your mother, he was in possession.”
“Well, that doesn’t actually mean they were his.”
My mother butted in. “Just like the cigarettes weren’t his.”
Please, Mom, you’re not helping.
“Do you know who he got the drugs from?”
I wondered why no one had told him the mustache just wasn’t working. Didn’t he have a wife or a mother?
“No,” I said.
“Your boyfriend maybe?”
“No!”
My strong answer made the note-taker look up.
Mustache said, “You’re sure about that?”
I kept my voice steady. “Yes, I’m sure. Nate and Tim never hung out. They don’t really like each other.”
“Why is that?”
Oh, why did I add that last bit? These guys were making me nervous, and I wiped sweat off my top lip. I probably totally looked like I was lying. Which I was. It was a necessary evil. If I told them the truth, they’d probably lock me up.
“Miss Donovan?”
“Tim’s just not that friendly. Maybe he didn’t like me dating an older guy. Nate doesn’t like how Tim treats the family.”
“How much older is Nate?”
Oh my God, how did this get to be about Nate?
“Two years.”
“Do you have an address for Mr. Mackenzie?”
“Why?” I started to freak. “This has nothing to do with him.”
“We’ll be the ones to determine if that’s the case, miss.”
I reluctantly told them his address and the note taker jotted it down. At least I knew they wouldn’t find anything incriminating, but I felt bad that Nate would have to go through an uncomfortable interrogation. And I hoped he wouldn’t unintentionally say anything that could complicate matters.
Like I just did.
They left saying they’d contact us the moment they had any news. I went directly up the steps to my room, with mom and dad glaring at my back. I knew they didn’t believe me, either.
I woke the next morning to Lucinda’s ring tone. I could picture her petite self pushing her long black hair--hair I’d spent most of my existence coveting--behind her ears and tucking her cell phone against the side of her face.
“Lucinda?” I said.
“I think Josh wants to break up with me.”
I sat up against my pillow. “Why would you think that? I thought you were doing great?”
“I thought so, too.” Her voice broke. “But he’s not returning my calls or my text messages. I haven’t seen him for almost a week.”
“Well, he could be busy with work and stuff.”
“That never stopped him before. I can just tell he’s cooled off.”
I studied my nails. I probably should take a file to them soon. “You’re sure you’re not just jumping to conclusions?”
“I don’t think so. The last time we were together all he could talk about was how much he preferred the balmy weather of Florida compared to the extreme temperatures here, and how awesome UF was.”
“It’s natural he’d be excited about his time at college.”
“Yeah, and college girls.”
I bit my lip. I worried about that, too. Nate didn’t leave the state, but how long before he got tired of hanging out with a high school student?
“You’re as good as any college girl, Lucinda. Josh would be an idiot to let you go.”
“You think so?”
“Of course I do. You’re awesome.”
“You have to say that because I’m your best friend.” I heard the smile in her voice. Crisis averted.
“Anyway,” she continued. “I
“Nate Mackenzie.” The officer with the note pad jotted his name down. I shifted nervously. I really hoped I hadn’t gotten him in trouble somehow.
“Did you know your brother was doing drugs?” The mustache officer asked.
“No,” I stated emphatically. “And just to be clear, there’s no proof he was doing drugs.”
The officer’s eyebrows jumped a little, giving away his personal doubt.
“According to your mother, he was in possession.”
“Well, that doesn’t actually mean they were his.”
My mother butted in. “Just like the cigarettes weren’t his.”
Please, Mom, you’re not helping.
“Do you know who he got the drugs from?”
I wondered why no one had told him the mustache just wasn’t working. Didn’t he have a wife or a mother?
“No,” I said.
“Your boyfriend maybe?”
“No!”
My strong answer made the note-taker look up.
Mustache said, “You’re sure about that?”
I kept my voice steady. “Yes, I’m sure. Nate and Tim never hung out. They don’t really like each other.”
“Why is that?”
Oh, why did I add that last bit? These guys were making me nervous, and I wiped sweat off my top lip. I probably totally looked like I was lying. Which I was. It was a necessary evil. If I told them the truth, they’d probably lock me up.
“Miss Donovan?”
“Tim’s just not that friendly. Maybe he didn’t like me dating an older guy. Nate doesn’t like how Tim treats the family.”
“How much older is Nate?”
Oh my God, how did this get to be about Nate?
“Two years.”
“Do you have an address for Mr. Mackenzie?”
“Why?” I started to freak. “This has nothing to do with him.”
“We’ll be the ones to determine if that’s the case, miss.”
I reluctantly told them his address and the note taker jotted it down. At least I knew they wouldn’t find anything incriminating, but I felt bad that Nate would have to go through an uncomfortable interrogation. And I hoped he wouldn’t unintentionally say anything that could complicate matters.
Like I just did.
They left saying they’d contact us the moment they had any news. I went directly up the steps to my room, with mom and dad glaring at my back. I knew they didn’t believe me, either.
I woke the next morning to Lucinda’s ring tone. I could picture her petite self pushing her long black hair--hair I’d spent most of my existence coveting--behind her ears and tucking her cell phone against the side of her face.
“Lucinda?” I said.
“I think Josh wants to break up with me.”
I sat up against my pillow. “Why would you think that? I thought you were doing great?”
“I thought so, too.” Her voice broke. “But he’s not returning my calls or my text messages. I haven’t seen him for almost a week.”
“Well, he could be busy with work and stuff.”
“That never stopped him before. I can just tell he’s cooled off.”
I studied my nails. I probably should take a file to them soon. “You’re sure you’re not just jumping to conclusions?”
“I don’t think so. The last time we were together all he could talk about was how much he preferred the balmy weather of Florida compared to the extreme temperatures here, and how awesome UF was.”
“It’s natural he’d be excited about his time at college.”
“Yeah, and college girls.”
I bit my lip. I worried about that, too. Nate didn’t leave the state, but how long before he got tired of hanging out with a high school student?
“You’re as good as any college girl, Lucinda. Josh would be an idiot to let you go.”
“You think so?”
“Of course I do. You’re awesome.”
“You have to say that because I’m your best friend.” I heard the smile in her voice. Crisis averted.
“Anyway,” she continued. “I
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