Page 74 of Truth, Lies, and Second Dates
Which reminded her. “I’m going out with this guy
(it’s official, then?)
who’s a bit of a klutz. Got any tips?”
“Yeah, tell him to break up with you. G.B., would you make yourself useful and have a screwdriver ready when I board?”
“I will, but only because it’s my job and I have to. It’s not because of anything you said.”
“Sure it isn’t.” Sherry saluted her with the cane in a motion that, ironically, could put someone’s eye out. “Always a pleasure, Captain.”
“I know that’s a cliché, but itisalways a pleasure.” To G.B.: “So that’s exciting.”
“What are you even doing here? You told me you’re grounded.”
“I’m just deadheading. I wore my uniform to make a point.” Said point:This is me now, and yesterday, and tomorrow: Captain Capp. CAPTAIN Capp. Captain Fucking Capp.
“Captain Capp?”
“Agh!” Apparently, it was sneak-up-on-Ava day, because she’d had no idea Becka was there until she turned around. “Good morning! How’d it go with your brother at MAGE?”
For some reason, Becka chose that moment to look terrified. “Fine! It was fine! Everything is fine!”
Okaaaaay.“You seemed a bit weirded out. Like when you’re a kid and you see one of your teachers at the grocery store. It’s out of context, right?”Is that the problem? Or is it something else?
“I enjoyed seeing you!”
G.B. coughed. “Yeah, I don’t know what all this is, but I’m not standing around while the gate lice*gather. Plus, I gotta get going on Sherry’s screwdriver.”
“Sure. See you on b—annnnd he’s sprinting down the ramp.” She turned back to Becka, who had closed the distance and was now standing less than half a foot away. “You were say—uh, hello.”
“Hello. I’m sorry about the murder.” Becka was close enough for Ava to tell she’d had coffee and some kind of pastry for breakfast. She’d also gone from shouting to whispering, and Ava was having trouble keeping up with… well. All of it.
“What?”
“And your drug test.”
“Because…?”
She blinked. “Because you keep getting—I mean, it’s notyou.But—it’s you. I mean, your thing. To be in the middle of all this bad shit.”
“My thing?”Bad shit?
“Well. Yes. I know you can’t help it, though,” Becka hurriedly assured her.
It’s not what you think. It CAN’T be what you think.
Well, I think there’s a possibility she might be having a ministroke…
“You’re standing really close for this conversation.”
“S-sorry.” Becka audibly gulped and stepped back threeinches. “You—why wereyouthere? At MAGE? You weren’t supposed to be there.”
“Where was I supposed to be?”
“Somewhere else.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
