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Ivy was the only one left to blame

"My sister has been otherwise occupied," I said, choosing my words carefully "She doesn’t think this is a lead worth following up on" A hint of interest sparked in Henry’s eyes I pushed on "I do"

Henry cracked the barest of smiles "And you have a plan"

"It’s not really a plan," I said, "so amble"

Someone atteainst it harder

Henry cleared his throat "Would it be possible to talk about your gahtly less inappropriate location?"

"If you really want to" I eased off the door and opened it, ignoring the stare of the boy on the other side Noas my turn to arch an eyebrow at Henry

"After you"

I texted Bodie that Vivvie and I needed to work on a project after school To add credence to that story, Henry and I met the reporter at Vivvie’s--or, more specifically, in the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel, where Vivvie and her aunt were staying until her aunt could findVivvie watched from a nearby coffee shop Her aunt ith her but had her back to us

Let’s hope it stays that way, I thought

I looked at my watch The reporter from the Post was supposed to meet us here any minute

"Tess Kendrick?" A red-haired man with a reddish brown beard approached His eyes flicked over to Henry, and I saw a spark of recognition

Good

"Carson Dweck?" I said He nodded

"I hear you need to talk to a reporter for a school project" Theon projects, aren’t they?"

I wondered if he would have said yes to his honorary niece’s request if I hadn’t gone to Hardwicke And then I wondered if he would have said yes if my last name hadn’t been Kendrick

"You wrote the piece on Ed around the bush "The one that said Pierce was a shoo-in for no at an unprecedented rate toward seeing that nothe naured that out, I thought

"And you’re Henry Marquette," thenext to randfather"

Henry gave a brief nod "Thank you"

The reporter held Henry’s gaze a er, then turned back to me "This is about the Pierce piece?" he said "Annika led me to believe you needed input on some kind of school project"