Free All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin Page A

He was sweating a bit, and I wondered if his head was hurting him as it sometimes did in noisy places, or if I was being overly protective and he was just hot from dancing. ‘Leo, are you feeling OK?’ I asked.
    ‘I’m fine,’ he said.
    ‘Don’t worry, baby sister,’ one of the sleazy girls said to me. ‘We’ll take care of your brother.’ She laughed and took Leo by the hand.
    I ignored her and said to Leo, ‘I’m going to talk to Jacks and then I’m going home. Walk me back, OK?’
    Leo nodded.
    ‘I’ll come find you when I’m done with Jacks,’ I told him.
    On the steps of the pool, Jacks was busy groping the redheaded girl. She didn’t seem to mind.
    ‘Why, if it isn’t Little Orphan Annie Balanchine all grown up!’ Jacks greeted me. He slapped the redhead’s thigh, then waved her away with a flick of his wrist. She didn’t even have the dignity to look offended. Jacks stood up and kissed me on the cheek. I kissed the air somewhere near his cheek. I wasn’t going to let my lips make contact with his flesh. ‘It’s good to see you, Annie.’
    ‘Yes,’ I said.
    ‘How long has it been?’
    I shrugged, but I knew exactly how long it had been. ‘So, I suppose I should be thanking you for helping with Leo’s work situation,’ I said.
    Jacks waved his hand. ‘Leo’s a good kid, and you know I’d do anything for your daddy. Don’t mention it.’
    I looked Jacks in the eyes. ‘I have to mention it, cousin, because it wouldn’t be right to accept such a favour without knowing what the giver expects in return.’
    Jacks laughed and took a swig from a silver flask that he kept in his trouser pocket. He offered some to me, but I declined. ‘You’re paranoid, kid. Not sure I blame you, considering what your upbringing’s been like.’
    ‘Daddy told me that he didn’t want Leo working in the family business in any capacity,’ I said. (Maybe those hadn’t been Daddy’s exact words but I felt confident that was what he would have wanted.)
    Jacks took a moment to consider this information. ‘Big Leo’s been gone a long time, Annie. Maybe he didn’t know what your brother’s abilities were when he made such a pronouncement.’
    ‘Abilities?’ I repeated. ‘What do you know of Leo’s abilities?’
    ‘Maybe you’re too close to see it, but your brother’s not the same kid who got hurt all those years ago. You got him cooped up half the day with the old lady and the other half the day at that dumb animal job.’ He pointed to Leo, who was dancing with the same sleazy girls. ‘He’s thriving here. Someone needs to air the kid out once in a while.’
    Maybe he was right, but it still didn’t explain what Jacks gained by helping Leo. I decided to put it to him point-blank. ‘So, what’s in it for you?’
    ‘Like I said, I’d do anything for your old man.’
    ‘Daddy’s dead,’ I reminded him. ‘Helping Leonyd’s son’s not gonna buy you any favours.’
    ‘Real cynic, you. Actually, Annie, helping your brother does buy me something. It makes me look better to the other men in the family. Maybe the connection to your father puts a little residual shine on me, too. God knows I could use that.’
    He was finally making sense. ‘All right.’
    ‘There’s a good little girl,’ Jacks said, looking me up and down. ‘You ain’t so little any more, cousin.’
    ‘Thanks for noticing.’ I turned to find my brother. At that moment, an alarm wailed. Lights began to flash, and an official-sounding voice blared through a bullhorn: ‘Everyone out! This establishment is being shut down by order of the New York Police Department and the New York City Department of Health. Patrons must evacuate now! Stragglers will be arrested!’
    ‘Someone must not have paid off the right person,’ Jacks said to me. ‘Wasn’t like this when Big Leo ran New York.’
    I went to find (Little) Leo but I couldn’t see him anywhere and the momentum of the crowd began pushing me towards the exit. It was