Free No Accident by Emily Blake

a Niçoise salad. I know you like salad. Or I could go to the store…”
    It was almost sad how much her mom wanted to make her happy. “Niçoise sounds great. Anything you make is good.” Kelly knew she waslaying it on thick. She couldn’t help it. Her mom was eating it up like a stray puppy that hadn’t seen a meal in weeks. The Alison Method really worked.
    Phoebe opened the refrigerator and took out green beans and eggs. “Kelly…sweetheart…”
    Kelly knew exactly what Phoebe was fumbling toward next. She was about to launch into a cloying explanation of how much she loved her and she really was like a daughter to her—the daughter she could never have—and she would give anything if Kelly could trust her again, and, and, and…
    And Kelly beat her to it. She could not bring herself to apologize, but she could toss her a bone. She kissed Phoebe on the cheek. “You’re a great mom,” she said quietly. “Best I could have asked for.”
    â€œOh, Kelly.” Her mom bit her lip. Her eyes glistened.
    If she didn’t get out of the kitchen fast, Kelly was going to get hugged. “Homework,” she said, holding up her bag and smiling as she backed out of the room, leaving her sappy mother to cook to her heart’s content. She had a feelingthere would be more than just salad to push around her plate come dinnertime.
    Safe in her room, Kelly made a pretend gagging noise and pulled out her cell. Just when she was ready to celebrate her good-girl victory she had a new problem. There was a message from “tt.” Not just a threat this time, either: Instructions. Truthteller wanted money— $500 cash in a brown bag left in the trash can on the corner of First and Doyle.
    Kelly rolled her eyes. As much as she hated to give in to threats, the thought of her “will” getting out now that she was staying…Well, it would be messy. And she hated cleaning up messes even more than kissing up or paying off threats.
    Paging Tonio to bring the car around, she grabbed her wallet and hurried outside before her mom could ask questions.
    With her jaw set and her mouth in a tight line, Kelly made herself a little promise. She would pay the $500 to keep tt quiet—the cash was nothing. But, she swore, I’ll get it back … with interest.

Chapter Nineteen
    Chad’s phone rang and he looked down at the screen. Dustin. Again. What could he possibly want now?
    â€œHey, Dustin,” Chad answered, adjusting his book bag and heading up his street. He tried not to sound irritated. He wanted to be there for his older brother, he really did. But just because his brother was incapable of making a decent decision about his life, did the responsibility have to fall in Chad’s lap?
    â€œLittle bro’,” Dustin greeted. “How’s it goin’?”
    â€œFine,” Chad replied, waiting to hear the real reason for the call. Dustin never called just to check in. “What’s up?” he added, trying to getto the point. There was no use wasting time on top of whatever else Dustin wanted. He was burning precious cell minutes. Minutes better spent on Kelly.
    â€œHey, good news,” Dustin said. “I found a great place to live. Now I just have to come up with the rent.”
    Chad closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead with his free hand. His heavy jacket and the walk were making him feel overheated and dizzy. Or maybe Dustin was the root of his pain. “I hear working pays money,” Chad joked, trying to stay calm. If Dustin thought Chad was going to pay his rent, he had another thing coming. How come Dustin didn’t have a job yet? He’d had plenty of time to find one.
    â€œI’m lookin’,” Dustin said. “But I’ve got some other deals in the works, too. Good ones.”
    Chad turned up the walk to his house, shaking his head. How many times had he heard that? Hundreds,