Page 32

CHAPTER 32

NINE YEARS AGO

A s Olive ate her pancake, she glanced at the TV perched in the corner of the kitchen. The morning news played, and a local senator was making a statement about an initiative he’d started to help inner city youth.

Her dad sat at the breakfast bar beside her, eating his pancakes. He let out a grunt. “He’s blowing smoke.”

“What do you mean?” Olive really never gave much thought to politics. She had absolutely zero interest in them.

“Everyone knows Senator Mitchell is being paid off by lobbyists who get him to do their dirty work. A big story about him is about to break. But he’s decided suddenly to channel thousands of dollars into this youth initiative. It’s all to distract people from what’s really going on.”

“Politicians do that?”

Her dad chuckled. “A lot of people do that. It’s called a smokescreen.”

“What’s a smokescreen?” Olive had heard the term, but she wasn’t sure she truly understood it.

“Think about a military operation where soldiers throw out a flash-bang. The smoke from it conceals what’s going on and distracts the bad guy for a moment, giving the military a chance to do what they came to do.”

“Okay . . .” Olive supposed she could picture that.

“Really, a smokescreen is a ruse, something that disguises a person’s true intentions or activities.”

“It’s a method of deceit then.”

Her dad shrugged. “I guess you could look at it that way. But it’s not always a bad thing.”

“How is it good?”

“Just think about when soldiers rescue hostages or do other noble acts. Those smokescreens they use do a world of good. Not all lies are bad.”

She thought about her philosophy class. Her teacher always made her think. And she wasn’t so sure he would agree with her dad’s statement.

“So you’re saying there are no absolutes in life?” she clarified. “That we can bend the rules to fit whatever methods we want to employ?”

Her dad chuckled and waved his finger. “I always knew you were a smart one, Olive Louise. You should always think for yourself. But I still stand behind my words. Not all lies are bad.”

Her dad sounded like he honestly believed that. Did he do so to make himself feel better?

“Maybe they can be bad but still necessary. Are the two exclusive?”

He snapped his fingers. “That’s an excellent way of wording it.”

Olive still wasn’t sure she believed the words she’d spoken. But she supposed the concept made sense at least.

She took another bite of her pancake, letting the gooey syrup cover her tastebuds.

Speaking of smokescreens . . . was this conversation a smokescreen on her dad’s account? Had he commented on that politician on screen so Olive wouldn’t ask any more questions about what she’d overheard last night?

It seemed like a good possibility.