Page 173 of Wicked Brutal

“Don’t be. He’s already more enthusiastic than half the people I’ve interviewed this week.”

Tobias looks extremely pleased with himself. “Am I going to be in the newspaper?”

“Maybe.” Cassandra smiles. “Depends how interesting you are.”

“I’m really interesting.”

I come down the stairs with my bag over my shoulder.

Cassandra looks at me. Just once. Quick. Normal. “Hi, Ally.”

“Hey.”

Mom pulls her sweater closer. “You’re sure you need both of them?”

“Absolutely. The bicentennial committee wants different generations represented. I’ve interviewed alumni, current students, parents. Tobias gives me the younger perspective.”

“I’m six,” Tobias says.

“Yes, you are.”

“And Ally’s eighteen.”

Cassandra looks at me solemnly. “Excellent. My research is going beautifully.”

Tobias continues, because God forbid there be three consecutive seconds without his participation. “Did you interview Ryan?”

“I did.”

“What did he say?”

“That is confidential journalist information.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m a professional.”

“Did he say a bad word?”

Walter’s voice comes from outside. “Almost certainly.”

Tobias lights up. “Mr. Walter!”

He darts past Cassandra. Mom immediately calls after him, “Tobias, coat!”

Walter appears in the doorway a second later with Tobias attached to his hand. “I found this.”

Mom smiles. “Unfortunately, he’s ours.”

“Damn. I was hoping for a finders-keepers situation.”

“Walter,” Cassandra says.

I hand Tobias his coat. He jams one arm into it. Then misses the other sleeve completely. I fix it. “Hold still.”

“I am.”

“You’re literally spinning.”