Free If the Witness Lied by Caroline B. Cooney

vacation.
    Kate finds a pack of cheese-and-peanut-butter crackers, flings herself backward on her mattress and rips open the cellophane. Too bad she can’t rip Smithy as easily.
    What a traitor.
    *   *   *
    A phone is ringing. Madison pays no attention. For months, she has lived where any phone call is for the Emmers, and any call for Madison is to her cell. She can hear Cheryl answering downstairs in the front hall, where there’s a fat old telephone on a small table below a large mirror. Mom used to love that phone; she said it made her feel like an actress in a 1960s movie.
    Madison shuts the door to Mom and Dad’s bedroom so she can think. She is the oldest. She has to behave like it for a change.
    Step one. Don’t let these people near Tris.
    At Dad’s desk, now Cheryl’s, Madison flips through the phone book, finds the number for Tris’s day care, and calls on her cell phone. Madison tries to remember the woman’s real name. She does not want to use that silly nickname, Griz.
    “Cradle Care,” a voice answers.
    It comes to her. “May I please speak to Mrs. Grisjevsky?”Madison moves Cheryl’s mouse pad. Underneath are the carved initials RF. Madison traces them with her finger.
    “This is Mrs. Griz.”
    Deep breath. “This is Madison Fountain, Tris Fountain’s sister. I understand from Mrs. Rand, my mother’s former stepsister, that there is a plan to film my brother during the hours he is entrusted to your care. You know that it would not be good for a little boy to suffer even more, and I know you’d never agree to allow your wonderful school to be invaded by people who don’t care what happens to Tris. So I’m calling to reinforce your decision not to allow it. Mrs. Rand has her heart set on a TV documentary. But I know you’ll put Tris first, as you always have, thinking only of what’s best for him.” Madison’s hands are sweaty.
    “But they’re on their way,” says Mrs. Griz wistfully.
    Television. It’s like some sort of god. People yearn to bow in front of it, to please it, to be part of it. Madison tries again. “They can’t get inside unless you buzz them in.”
    Mrs. Griz says nothing.
    Madison has no more arguments, so she closes the conversation briskly and cheerfully. “Thanks, Mrs. Griz. I knew Tris could depend on you.” Tris knew he could depend on his big sister Madison, too, and look where it got him.
    Mrs. Griz speaks quickly. “Since Jack picked Tris up early, of course they won’t be recording today. We’ll just discuss
details
today. I’m
sure
there’s a way to please
every
body.” In other words, she’s totally on board with the TV plan.
    Madison disconnects without saying good-bye. Nice mature behavior, she compliments herself sarcastically.
    Jack has already picked Tris up? That sounds like him, sacrificing all for his little brother. But Friday during school? Do they have a half day or something?
    He’ll tell her when they talk. Luckily these people don’t know about her car—well, Cheryl knows, but Cheryl is way too excited to ask herself how Madison got here.
    Madison cannot summon the courage to phone Jack, who once again is doing the right thing—saving Tris—as opposed to Madison, who drove up by accident, stumbled into a situation and can’t even call off the day-care part. Madison takes the coward’s way out and texts Jack.
    *   *   *
    The headmistress studies her paper folder on Elizabeth Smith Fountain. Smithy is a great kid, but then, Dr. Dresser thinks most of her students are great kids. What Smithy mainly is, is stranded. And like a beached sea creature, she’s hard to help.
    Dr. Dresser thinks of the stepaunt who has never, not once, driven up to visit. The stepaunt who was laughing, maybe even snickering, at the idea of Smithy heading home.
    Dr. Dresser picks up the phone.
    *   *   *
    Jack has to buy himself some time.
    Normally Cheryl couldn’t care less when Jack takes Tris. Butthis is different: it interferes