The Odds

In Pittsburgh, Pa., Sheriff Richard Christie is at the hospital suffering from leukemia. He is about to begin chemo and his regard for family and friendship is increased with his illness. The four younger children of the Phillips family have been on their own since their father died and their step-mother left. They are bright, industrious and good students. Meg, at age fourteen is the eldest. She and the older two children do whatever little jobs that they can to earn money for food and the basics. They are afraid of going for help because they worry that they will be placed in foster homes. At the neighborhood pizza place, Nick Banks helps Meg with food. When she doesn't have enough to pay, he lets her pay what she has. He also gives her food sometimes saying it is day old and he couldn't sell it. A young boy is found dead from drugs. Since it is questionable, homicide detecives John Potocki and Colleen Greer investigate. They are temporarily assigned to narcotics and Colleen is asked to check the pizza parlor for drug activity. She meets Nick and thinks he is an upright person. Nick is actually an ex con who is obligated to a drug operative. That man tells Nick that he wants Nick to accompany another drug employ on some business. When Nick finds that the other man is an enforcer and wants to harm a young boy, Nick intervenes. As a result, he is injured. As an ex con, Nick doesn't want to go to the police and his kindness toward Meg Phillips is returned in a major way. Nick and the Phillips children find themselves entwined in an unexpected and heartwarming manner. The pacing is well done and with Nick Banks, the Phillips children and Colleen Greer, the author has given us memorable characters. We also are given a lesson in how common drug activity is in the inner city and how easy it is to attract young people to that trap. We also see how hard it is to resist the drug scene and have a youngster maintain a drug free life. Heart warming and praise worthy.