Read Online O'Farrell's Law by Brian Freemantle - Free Book Online Page A

wanted and then let himself be tugged to a store practically next door to be shown the range of electric space vehicles. He bought one that changed from a vehicle to a warrior, like the one Billy already had.
    On the way to the park, O’Farrell had seen a restaurant with an open deck stretching toward the lake, so he took Billy back there to eat. They sat outside, the silver-glinting lake to their left, the upthrust fingers of the Chicago skyscrapers to their right. Billy chose a cheeseburger and fries with a large Coke and insisted his new toy should remain on the table between them. O’Farrell ordered gin and tonic and tuna on rye; by the time the food came his glass was empty, so he ordered another.
    â€œHear there’s some nasty things going on at school,” O’Farrell said.
    â€œHuh?” The child’s mouth was full of fries.
    â€œMommy had to come to talk to some people this week?”
    â€œOh that,” Billy said dismissively.
    â€œWhat was it about?”
    â€œDrugs,” the boy announced flatly. He moved the toy along the table, toward the Coke container, making a noise like explosions.
    â€œYou know what drugs are?”
    â€œSure,” Billy said, attention still on the spacecraft.
    Not yet nine, thought O’Farrell: long-lashed, blue-eyed, red-cheeked with uncombed hair over his forehead and his shirttail poking curiously over his belt, like it always did, and he knew what drugs were. And not yet nine! He said, “What?”
    â€œStuff that makes you feel funny.”
    â€œWho told you that?”
    â€œMiss James.”
    â€œYour teacher?”
    â€œUh-huh.” He was biting into his cheeseburger now, ketchup on either side of his mouth.
    â€œWhat did she say?”
    Billy had to swallow before he could reply. “That we were to tell her if anyone said we should try.”
    â€œWould you tell her?”
    â€œBoom, boom, boom,” went Billy, attacking the Coke container. “Guess so,” he said.
    â€œJust guess so! Has anyone ever said you should do it?”
    â€œNope. Can I have a vanilla ice cream with chocolate topping now?”
    O’Farrell summoned the waitress and added another gin and tonic to the order. “You know anyone who has tried it?”
    â€œCouple of guys in the next grade, I think.”
    Ellen had talked about Nancy Reagan seeking pledges from nine-year-olds, O’Farrell remembered. He said, “What happened?”
    â€œThey sniffed something. Made them go funny, like I said.” The toy ceased being a spacecraft and was turned into a warrior so that it could attack from the ground.
    â€œWhat happened to them?”
    â€œThey had to go to the principal. Now they’re in a program.”
    â€œYou know what a program is?”
    â€œSure,” Billy said, letting his warrior retreat. “It’s when you go and they keep on about you not doing it.”
    It was a good enough description from someone so young. O’Farrell said, “You love me?”
    Billy looked directly at him for the first time. “Of course I love you.”
    â€œGrandma too? And Mommy most of all?”
    â€œSure. Dad too.”
    What about Patrick? O’Farrell thought for the first time. He’d have to ask Ellen. “I want you to make me a promise, a promise that you’ll keep if you love us all like you say you do.”
    â€œOkay,” the child said brightly. The warrior became a spacecraft again.
    â€œIf anyone ever comes up to you, at school or anywhere, and tries to get you to buy something that will make you go funny, you promise me you’ll say no and go at once and tell Miss James or Mommy? You promise me that?”
    â€œCan I have another Coke? Just a small one.”
    O’Farrell caught the waitress’s eye again and insisted, “You going to promise me that?”
    â€œ ’Course I am. That’s easy.”
    â€œAnd mean it? Really mean