Free Ferocity Summer by Alissa Grosso

minutes of your time. I’m sorry I’ve caught you at a bad time, but I just wanted to have a few words with you about Randy.”
    I froze. “About Randy? What the hell does Randy have to do with anything? He was passed out.”
    â€œI’m not sure I follow you,” Christian said.
    â€œWell, this is an inquiry into my character, right? I mean, of the four of us, Randy is the one with the cleanest hands.”
    â€œThe four of us? You mean you, Randy, Danielle, and Brandon?”
    â€œWho the hell are Danielle and Brandon?”
    â€œI’m not sure how much you know, Priscilla. It’s possible Randy has not been entirely forthcoming about things.”
    Well, there was an understatement for you.
    â€œWho the hell are you?” I asked. He looked confused. I saw him fumbling for the badge again. “I mean, who are you working for?”
    â€œI’m part of a special drug trafficking task force the FBI created. We’ve been monitoring Randy for months.”
    â€œSo this isn’t about the trial?”
    â€œWhat trial?”
    â€œI should probably get going,” I said.
    â€œPlease, let me give you a ride,” he said.
    I agreed, but only because I wanted to know more about Randy, not to mention Danielle and Brandon, whoever the hell they were.
    Like every movie psychopath, Christian promptly drove me in the opposite direction from my house. I, however, had begun to feel sorry for him and could no longer muster up any fear of a man who wore yellow pants. He drove to the DQ down the road.
    â€œIce cream?” he asked.
    â€œSure, whatever.”
    We sat at one of those picnic tables with a crooked umbrella on top. I hoped I didn’t see anyone I knew.
    â€œThe thing is, if we could have your cooperation, it would help matters tremendously.”
    â€œWhat matters?”
    â€œWell, I think it would be mutually beneficial to all. I mean, I understand that narcing out your boyfriend might seem like this really crummy thing to do, but—”
    â€œHe’s not my boyfriend.”
    â€œYou broke up?”
    â€œWe weren’t ever together. I mean, it’s not like that. It’s not that formal.”
    â€œOh, okay. But you two are still close, right?”
    I thought of Randy’s marijuana stash. I thought of Danielle and Brandon. Close? I didn’t know the first thing about him.
    â€œJust what exactly do you want from me?”
    â€œI need your help.”
    â€œWhy should I help you?”
    â€œBecause it’s the right thing to do. Because it’ll give you a clear conscience.” I stood up. “No, wait,” he said quickly. “You just quit your job, so maybe there’s a way we can pay you for your efforts.”
    â€œWhat about the clear-conscience thing?” I asked, still standing.
    â€œWell, yeah. I mean, you could rest easy because what you’d be doing, would be, you know, good.”
    â€œYou’re telling me you’re going to expunge my sins?” I looked hard at him and could tell he didn’t know anything about the trial. “Do your homework.”
    I walked away. He tried to stand up but got his legs caught under the picnic table.
    When I got to the front parking lot, someone called my name. I turned and found Andrea sitting in the passenger seat of a beat-up Toyota as if she was waiting for me. It was the first good thing that had happened to me all day. I decided to take it as a sign that fate was trying to bring me and Andrea closer together.
    â€œHey,” she said. “How’s it going? Who’s that guy you were with?”
    â€œOh, he’s just some friend of the family.”
    â€œHe’s cute, but he dresses kind of weird, doesn’t he?”
    â€œYeah,” I said. “Do you think I could get a ride?”
    â€œOh, I’m sure Tony won’t mind.”
    Tony, a leering sort of college boy, had no problem driving me home. He simply