Wait—what?
I blinked as I wondered if I’d heard him right.
“What did you say?” I asked him slowly.
“Just that I thought maybe you were doing some research for your next job,” Ollie said, shrugging. “That is why you were looking up Christian Miles, right? He’s filthy rich. Loads to take there.”
My head was swimming. I wasn’t even sure where to begin processing what was coming out of Ollie’s mouth. Did he know who I was? How did he know who I was? Did everyone know who I was? Was I really so out of my element here that I’d already totally given myself away? Was Ollie actually some evil genius mastermind sent here to thwart my every move?
“Not that I’m judging. I mean, if you did rob him, he’d totally deserve it,” Ollie said when I still didn’t respond. “The guy’s the worst.”
I closed my mouth, which had dropped open at some point during Ollie’s speech.
What was I supposed to do now? Interrogate him? Couldn’t exactly do that in a room full of kids. Threaten him? I didn’t even know what he had on me yet, so that might be jumping the gun.
That meant I had to go with old trusty:
Deny, deny, deny.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, snatching my backpack off the desk and walking away from the evidence as quickly as I could.
I was betting on one of two things happening after this: either Ollie was going to follow me, in which case I could isolate him from the rest of the school’s population and get all the info I wanted out of him without anyone else eavesdropping. Or he’d leave me alone and forget everything he’d seen.
I wasn’t sure which I wanted to have happen more.
But after I slammed out of the library and into the crowded hallway, I heard someone behind me and knew Ollie had chosen door number one.
I headed straight for the nearest exit and took it, relieved to see that it led straight outside and to an area on the side of the school that was barely inhabited.
Nobody would bother us here.
“Hey, Frankie, wait up,” Ollie called out as I continued to walk across the grass toward the soccer field.
When I was sure nobody was around, I turned abruptly and stalked back toward Ollie, who was clearly struggling to keep up with me.
“Who are you?” I asked finally, putting my face in his menacingly.
He took a small step backward. “Um, I’m…Ollie?” he answered, confused. “Don’t you remember? From yesterday? I was your welcoming—”
“Committee, yeah, I know that,” I said, blowing past this. “I mean, who are you? How do you know…what you know?”
“Oh,” Ollie said, realization registering on his face. “That.”
“Yeah,” I echoed. “That.”
“I’ve sort of known who you were since the first time I saw you,” he said sheepishly. It was the first time I’d ever seen him look shy. He was usually so absurdly confident that it was weird seeing him this way and made me wonder if I’d underestimated him from the very beginning.
“How do you know who I am?” I asked slowly, my mind starting to whir with all the possibilities. Was he a spy recruited by the government to follow me and make sure I didn’t continue my dad’s legacy? Was he a rival thief trying to take me down?
“Uh, I’m sort of what you might call…an entertainment fanboy?” Ollie admitted finally, with a goofy smile.
This answer had not been anywhere on my list, and it showed on my face.
“A what?” I asked.
“An entertainment fanboy?” he repeated. “Like, I’m totally into all things entertainment and celebrity and infamy. Well, one of my biggest fascinations is true crime. It’s really having its moment right now. I love to watch all that TruTV stuff and binged Making a Murderer and all those E! True Hollywood Stories of famous people who commit crimes…”
I started shaking my head like it might help make sense of what he was saying. When Ollie noticed this, he tried to get back on track.
“I was obsessed with your dad’s trial!” he blurted out finally.
This revelation nearly threw me for a loop, but I forced myself to remain calm.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said coolly, though I could feel myself starting to sweat.
Ollie raised an eyebrow at me. “Frankie, I know my true crime. And what your dad did was the crime of the century,” he said, bluntly. When I didn’t immediately confirm his suspicions, he sighed loudly and looked toward the sky. “They’re not supposed to show kids in the news—for their privacy and safety and all—but I saw you. In the coverage. You were there every day. Sitting in the courtroom, watching it all happen.”
I swallowed hard.
The gig is up, I thought.
“Look, your hair wasn’t this boring brown color you’ve got going on now and the bangs are new—love them, by the way—but I never forget a face that’s been on TV,” he said matter-of-factly. “I knew who you were the minute I saw you, Frankie Lorde. What I’ve been trying to figure out is why you’re here.”
“My uncle lives here,” I said, feeling like it was a safe enough response. I still wasn’t admitting anything specific, but both of us knew he’d figured me out.
I began to walk away.
“Are you sure that’s the only reason you’re here?” Ollie pried.
“Pretty much,” I answered.
“So, you’re not here because, oh, I don’t know…this is one of the richest places in the country?” he asked gleefully. “Plenty of people to rob and all.”
I turned to look at him now.
“You don’t know anything about me,” I said stonily. “I’m just a kid, going to school in some stupid little town. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“We both know you’re more than that, Frankie,” Ollie said quietly, closing the distance between us. “All I’m saying is…maybe we could help each other?”
I couldn’t stop myself from busting out laughing.
“How could you possibly help me?” I asked.
“I can help you rob Christian Miles,” he said at last. “And you can tell me all about your dad.”
I looked at him blankly.
“Why do you want to know about my dad?” I asked.
“See, I’m an actor,” Ollie explained quickly. “But I’m sure you could tell that. Anyways, all famous actors have had their big breakout roles. Brad Pitt had A River Runs Through It. For Julia Roberts, it was Pretty Woman. Zac Efron had High School Musical. I really think your dad’s story could be mine.”
“Are you insane?” I asked bluntly. “My dad doesn’t have a story.”
“But he will,” Ollie insisted. “And I want to play him when they make that movie. Or Netflix original.”
“You are crazy,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief and beginning to walk away.
“Look, Frankie,” Ollie said, struggling to catch up to me. “All I’m saying is that I think your dad is wickedly awesome and I want to play him when I grow up. I mean, I think I could do him justice. You know…if I knew all there was to know about him.”
I barely paused before answering.
“No way,” I said.
“But I can help!” he called out. “With Christian Miles. I’ve lived here my whole life, Frankie. I know everything there is to know about this town. And I know him.”
“You know a billionaire?” I asked, looking over my shoulder disbelievingly.
“Like I said, entertainment fanboy,” he said, pointing to his chest.
“Still no,” I said, and continued to walk.
“Don’t you need a partner in crime, though?” Ollie asked loudly. “I mean, with your dad away and all? Who’s gonna have your back?”
I cringed as he mentioned my dad being gone. It was enough to know every day that I was alone, but being reminded of it by a relative stranger? Not fun.
On the other hand, he wasn’t completely wrong.
I’ve never done a job alone before. My dad has always been my partner. We’ve depended on each other. We’ve trusted each other more than anyone else in the world. And this trust has made every job we’ve done easier. There’s been a sort of rhythm to it and we’ve both had our clear roles to play.
So how was I supposed to do this alone? In all the excitement of getting back in the game and going after Miles, I hadn’t thought this part through.
Was Ollie right? Did I actually need a partner to pull this off?
And of all people, was the best person to do this Ollie? Crazy, over-the-top, stand-out-like-a-sore-thumb Ollie?
Then again, who else did I have around here who knew my big secret, had an odd infatuation with Dad and his work, and was willing to get into trouble with me if I gave the say-so?
I groaned and turned back around.
Ollie was already grinning at me, one hand on his hip like he was posing for someone.
“I’m not saying yes,” I said adamantly.
“Okay,” he said, nodding excitedly.
“Let’s see if you can help me on the recon stuff and we’ll go from there,” I said, starting to walk away again.
“I can totally help with recon!” Ollie exclaimed. “I’m gonna be a great sidekick, Frankie. I promise.”
“We’re not superheroes, Ollie,” I said. “More like villains, depending on who you ask.”
I added the last part under my breath.
“Right,” Ollie said.
Then he fell silent. For a second, I thought he’d finally left me alone. But then I heard him start to breathe heavily behind me as he caught up.
“But there are gonna be dope outfits, right?” he asked. “ ’Cuz I can totally do incognito fabulosity.”
I dropped my head into my hands and sighed.
What am I getting myself into?