Gravity Check (12 page)
A couple of cops have begun chopping down the stalks of weed with machetes. They've got a lot of work ahead of them. Another one drifts around the property, taking photos and writing notes. Turns out Mitch runs a bunch of these grow-ops. Or he used to, anyway. The police have been shutting them down as they find them, but they've never been able to get their hands on the guy.
Until today.
I join the others where they're sitting. A police officer has already taken statements from them too and left them with some food. Granola bars, protein bars, dried fruit, beef jerky, cheese and chocolate bars. Sweet. Famished, I dive in. We pass around a couple of bottles of Gatorade.
“Well, at least they've finally caught Deuce,” says Nolan. “He'll probably get twenty-five years.”
“At least,” agrees Rico.
“I just can't believe that Mitch is Deuce,” says Chase, shaking his head. “I thought he was such a great guy.” We all nod.
“Holy hell, what a day for you, eh, Jamie?” says Rico.
I nod. “Definitely a death march,” I say. “Glad it's over now.”
Chase punches my shoulder. “You rock, J. We'd all be dead if it wasn't for you, you know that?” Everyone nods.
“Back at you,” I say to him. “That was a pretty nice piece of hand-smashing you pulled there at the end.”
“You know,” says Seth, chewing on a piece of beef jerky, “if I didn't know any better, I'd have to say my big brother is a hero.”
He holds his fist out to me. I grin and bump.
“Hear, hear,” says Nolan, and breaks into applause.
While everyone is still clapping, Seth leans forward. “You know, you've always been my hero,” he says. He looks away. “You stupid jerk.”
“Yeah? Well,” I say, lowering my voice and looking straight into his sky-blue eyes. “You've always been a stupid jerk.”
We both laugh.
I'd like to thank Sarah Harvey for helping me make this manuscript better with each revision. Thanks, too, to Andrew Wooldridge, who opened the door in the first place, and to the amazing, lovable and hardworking staff at Orca. You're magic, every one of you.
Alex Van Tol grew up reading a wide range of books, from Enid Blyton to Stephen King. She has worked with kids all her life as a swim instructor, camp counselor, teacher and mother. She traded the chalkboard for the keyboard in 2007. Alex's first novel with Orca Book Publishers was
Knifepoint
. She lives and writes (but no longer mountain bikes) in Victoria, British Columbia.
ALSO AVAILABLE BY
ALEX VAN TOL
MIKE HAS FALLEN FOR HIS BEST FRIEND,
Lindsay. And he's pretty sure she feels the same way, until a simple misunderstanding destroys Lindsay's trust.
When Lindsay ends up in a compromising situation, someone is filming the whole thing, and the footage goes viral. Mike has to help Lindsay in her time of greatest need.
Available in English and Spanish
JILL TOOK A JOB THAT SOUNDED PERFECT
for the summer, guiding tourists on trail rides in the beautiful mountains. She didn't realize that the money was terrible, the hours long and the co-workers insufferable. After a blowup with her boss, she takes a lone man into the mountains for a ride, only to find that he is a dangerous killer. When Jill fights back and manages to escape, she is in a desperate race to survive and make it to safety.
Titles in the Series
orca sports
Absolute Pressure
Sigmund Brouwer
All-Star Pride
Sigmund Brouwer
Blazer Drive
Sigmund Brouwer
Boarder Patrol
Erin Thomas
Chief Honor
Sigmund Brouwer
Cobra Strike
Sigmund Brouwer
Crossover
Jeff Rud
Dead in the Water
Robin Stevenson
The Drop
Jeff Ross
Fly Away
Nora Rock
Flying Feet
James McCann
Gravity Check
Alex Van Tol
Hitmen Triumph
Sigmund Brouwer
Hurricane Power
Sigmund Brouwer
Jumper
Michele Martin Bossley
Kicker
Michele Martin Bossley
Maverick Mania
Sigmund Brouwer
Oil King Courage
Sigmund Brouwer
Paralyzed
Jeff Rud
Razor's Edge
Nikki Tate
Rebel Glory
Sigmund Brouwer
Scarlet Thunder
Sigmund Brouwer
Slam Dunk
Kate Jaimet
Squeeze
Rachel Dunstan Muller
Thunderbird Spirit
Sigmund Brouwer
Tiger Threat
Sigmund Brouwer
Titan Clash
Sigmund Brouwer
Two Foot Punch
Anita Daher
Venom
Nikki Tate
Winter Hawk Star
Sigmund Brouwer
orca sports
For more information on all the books in the Orca Sports series, please visit
www.orcabook.com
.
