I spun around to find Allie standing behind me, squinting at the screen over my shoulder.

Instinctively, I hit the “off” button on my monitor. “Did you want something?” I asked, pointedly.

She straightened up, focusing on me. “Felix said I should get with you on where we are with Pines.”

We. I hated that word.

“I am looking at a possible angle involving a coworker,” I said, emphasizing the pronoun in question.

“Who?” Without invitation, Allie pulled a chair up beside my desk.

The last thing I wanted to do was give Reporter Barbie my inside scoop. On the other hand, Felix had been pretty clear about us working together. And I had a feeling where I was concerned, lately his patience was thinner than an Olsen twin. So, I made a compromise.

“I talked to Pines.”

Allie’s eyebrows went north. “He gave you the exclusive story? I’ve been trying to get his publicist all day, and the best I got was ‘no comment.’”

“Well…it’s not exactly what I’d call a full exclusive…” I hedged, remembering the way he’d clammed up. “But he did tell me that he never touched any kids.”

Allie’s nose crinkled. “He’s not accused of touching kids.”

Picky, picky.

“Look,” I said, “I know you’re new here. But when we have a direct quote of any kind, we have a story. All we have to do is make a story around the quote.”

Again with the crinkle. I had to admit it was adorable. You know, in a unicorns-farting-out-rainbows kind of way that made me want to hurl.

“That doesn’t really make sense,” she protested. “I mean, is there a story or not?”

I shook my head. “So young. So naïve. Watch and learn, honey.” I cracked my knuckles and flipped my computer screen back on.

PINES PROTESTS INNOCENCE

FROM HIS JAIL CELL IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, DIRECTOR TURNED FELON EDWARD PINES GAVE AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TO—

“Wait.” Allie held up a hand. “I thought you said it wasn’t technically an exclusive.”

I shrugged. “I sure didn’t see any other reporters there.”

Allie cocked her head to the side. “Isn’t that lying?”

“I’m on the blonde’s side,” Cal piped up, coming up behind me and resting his butt against my desk.

“You would be,” I mumbled. He was male, she was stacked—you do the math.

I ignored them both, continuing with my article.

—AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TO THE INFORMER. CLAIMING INNOCENCE, PINES TOLD OUR REPORTER THAT “HE NEVER TOUCHED NO KIDS.” THE BELOVED DIRECTOR’S LATEST FILM, STARRING CHILD ACTOR REED HARRISON, WAS A HOT PROPERTY AT THE BOX OFFICE, EARNING A WHOPPING $85 MILLION IN ITS OPENING WEEKEND—

I heard a low whistle from Cal. “Is that number right?”

I nodded. “I am so in the wrong business.”

“You and me both.”