Free The Set Up by Sophie McKenzie Page A

name?’
    ‘Ketty.’
    ‘Okay, go outside with Edward and Ketty and wait. Act normal. Don’t say you’ve seen me. And, whatever happens, just go along with it. Everything’ll be okay. Remember I’m pulling the strings.’
    Pulling what strings?
    But Jack was already propelling me out of the casino and towards the bar area.
    I made my way back to Ed and Ketty feeling more troubled than ever. What was Jack going on about? And when was he going to take Ed and leave me and Ketty alone?
    Ketty and Ed were so deep in conversation that they didn’t notice me coming until I was almost on top of them. Ketty looked really pretty, all smiling and fresh-faced in her jeans and red jumper. Beside her, Ed just looked geeky – his shirt even had ironed-in creases down the sleeves.
    ‘Ed did orienteering at his last school,’ Ketty said, as I walked up. ‘It’s like running with maps.’
    ‘Right,’ I said, Jack’s words still racing through my head. What did he mean about ‘pulling the strings’?
    ‘What’s the matter?’ Ed said.
    ‘Nothing. Er . . . d’you want more drinks?’
    ‘I’ll get them.’ Ed fished out his wallet and turned to the barman.
    I raised my eyebrows. Where was all Ed’s confidence coming from?
    Ed bought three Cokes and we chatted on for a bit. Ketty was clearly having a great time, explaining various school customs and procedures to Ed. He was all silent smiles and encouraging nods. I hung back, grim-faced, wondering what was about to happen. I didn’t have to wait long.
    After about ten minutes a youngish man in a suit and tie wandered over, his eyes on Ketty.
    ‘Hello, miss,’ he said with a frown. ‘I need to ask you to step into the office for a minute.’
    I froze. I wasn’t expecting anyone to challenge us for being here. Hadn’t Jack said that he knew the manager?
    ‘White flag,’ I said.
    The man ignored me.
    ‘I’ve got ID,’ Ketty squeaked, picking up her bag. ‘And we only drank Coca-cola.’
    ‘That’s not it, miss,’ the man went on. He took the bag from her. ‘I’m afraid we have reason to believe you are in possession of class A drugs.’
    ‘ What? ’ Ketty and I spoke together.
    Ed’s eyes widened into circles.
    ‘That’s ridiculous.’ Ketty’s lip trembled. ‘Look in my bag if you don’t believe me.’
    The man thrust his hand into her bag. He slowly pulled out a small tube of pills.
    Ketty gasped. ‘They’re not mine.’ She looked at me.
    ‘They’re not hers,’ I insisted. ‘Someone put them there.’ The idea that Ketty would take pills was ludicrous. Of all the people I knew Ketty was the last person who’d ever use drugs.
    And then it struck me. This must be what Jack had warned me about – what he’d been referring to when he’d told me: Just go along with it . . . I’m pulling the strings.
    The man remained impassive. ‘Like I said, please, no fuss, miss. We’d just like a private word.’
    I was too shocked to think straight as we crossed the crowded bar towards the casino room. Why had Jack arranged to have drugs planted on Ketty? It didn’t make sense.
    The man took us into the little cloakroom with all the coats and bags.
    ‘I don’t understand.’ Ketty was shaking now. ‘I’ve never taken drugs. Not even the tiniest bit.’
    The door from the casino swung open, letting in a shortlived burst of light and chatter. The woman in the long black dress that I’d seen watching Jack earlier swept in.
    She had short blonde hair cut in a sharp bob and smelled of a deep, musky perfume. Her dark, hard eyes took us in, then she turned to the man. ‘Please take the girl outside, Scott.’
    ‘Yes, ma’am.’ The man opened the door and indicated that Ketty should leave.
    ‘Where are you taking her?’ Ed’s face was pale under his freckles.
    ‘What’s going on?’ Ketty looked over her shoulder at me, her eyes full of fear as she was led away.
    I stared down at my feet, unable to meet her gaze. What was going on? Where was Jack? I