Free Operation Breathless by Marianne Evans

ended up going to Falls Park.” At Layla’s words, Gabe exchanged a swift glance with Susanna, thinking, their park. “It was getting dark. I wanted to leave. That’s about the time one of them talked about going on a spree…you know, destroying stuff and spray painting—that kind of thing. A couple of the older kids had been drinking, and it all sounded stupid to me, so I took off. Kaitlyn O’Dell had texted me about hanging out, and that sounded like a lot more fun, so I left.”
    Layers of sadness shadowed Susanna’s eyes. “What happened next?”
    “They trashed the place. They wrecked the park, spraying graffiti, slicing rubber swing seats, dumping trash cans.”
    “Yet you weren’t there?” Susanna lifted her hands in defeat. “How in the world did you get roped into this?”
    Tears stirred in Layla’s eyes. “They framed me.”
    Susanna slumped back against her chair, openly and skeptically staring at the teen. Layla spun away from that condemning glare and slammed a fist against the wall so hard Gabe was afraid she’d broken her hand. He stood fast and took hold of her arms. “Hey…settle down, Layla. Keep talking. Let’s work through this.”
    She didn’t look at Gabe even once. She remained secured by Gabe’s hold, but her gaze lasered onto Susanna. “After what I did to you, this must seem like a fair payback. Well, I need you right now—so much. Please help me. I’m not lying.”
    “Layla, police officers caught four of the kids, and they testified that you were part of it but you ran away.” Susanna shrugged, seemingly at a loss.
    “They lied!”
    “Why would they? You’re all in the same boat. What would they have to gain?”
    “The pleasure of messing me over. Plus, the cops saw my past record. Because of that botched-up heist I pulled on you at the drug store, they weren’t letting me go anywhere until someone was alerted.” All at once she crumpled; the bravado drained away. Gabe’s heart broke when Layla left his care and knelt next to Susanna. She rested her head on Susanna’s shoulder, crying. “I wanted you to help me. You know Chelsea and her group. They’ve been after me ever since that boating and hiking trip. Why? Because I’m trying . Because I want to start over and they’re jealous. I want a chance to have good things happen, not this crap! That’s why I called you, and not my folks.”
    “So…Chelsea was involved?”
    Layla looked a bit chagrined by the fact that she had dropped a name, but she nodded.
    “Where did you go? Can Kaitlyn vouch for your whereabouts?” Susanna asked.
    “No.” Layla sank in on herself, relying on Susanna’s physical support once more. Susanna covered the girl’s hand with hers, running a thumb against Layla’s fingertips. “She wasn’t home when I got there.”
    “How did you get from the park to Kaitlyn’s house?” Susanna asked.
    “My bike. It was only a few miles.” Layla sniffled and stood. From the tabletop she swiped her purse and started shuffling through the contents until she pulled out her cell phone. “After that, I wanted to just disappear. I went to a convenience store and bought a pop, then I tried calling Kaitlyn and texting her. No luck.”
    Gabe’s ears perked up at that. “Do you have a receipt for the pop? It would verify location and timing. Plus, we could check their surveillance cameras.”
    “No. I never take receipts.” She shrugged. “After that, I sat on a bench in front of the store and moped for a bit. Then, I tweeted.”
    Susanna frowned. “What did you post?”
    Layla gave her hair a toss and worked the buttons on her phone. Gabe watched over Layla’s shoulder as the social network came to life on the screen of her phone. “I wrote: Why does trouble stalk me…even when I want to avoid it? ”
    Gabe forced down a rush of adrenaline. Experience and a policeman’s instinct kicked in. First, he could petition police officers to question the clerk on duty at the convenience store,