“I’ll keep that in mind. Always glad to help with testing or being a convenient target for bitterness,” Tattletale said, glancing my way at the end of the statement. “Antares, you disappeared on me, and you turned off your phone. You told me something cryptic in a hurry, like a riddle I was supposed to solve. I went down the wrong rabbit hole, tried to find your cousin before I realized.”

“My cousin.”

“Someone important, with the word choice, I thought it was family. Doesn’t matter. What matter is this is a distraction. I need to know if I can keep you in the loop or if I should carry on investigating this on my own.”

“After you just said you went down the wrong rabbit hole, I’m not filled with confidence,” Sveta said.

“Down girl. Down,” Tattletale told her.

“You might have to handle the next parts on your own,” I answered. “I spent most of that last meeting stewing in how sketchy that guy was, and I wasn’t much use. Besides, I’ve got to look after a friend.”

“No you don’t,” Sveta said.

“At least to see you home safe.”

“You don’t,” Sveta said.

Tattletale jumped in, saying, “She says you don’t, and I wouldn’t mind a little firepower. I want to ask people questions but they aren’t entirely friendly people.”

“Who?”

“People who are pulling strings behind the scenes. Little Midas, maybe the mayor, people in that vein, who play games and who haven’t been getting directly involved. This is where my years of playing the dastardly mastermind comes in useful. I know these guys.”

“Why are you wanting to talk to them?”

“Because Big Picture had connections and one of the things those connections wanted was for him to get into Foresight. I think that’s the double prong. If it isn’t, talking to those connections of his will show us the second prong. But talking to them requires having more than Snuff at my back, and anyone else I’d trust is busy watching the kids.”

I thought of Kenzie. That aborted conversation.

“You go,” Sveta said.

I shook my head. “No, that’s—”

“You go, and I’ll come with,” Sveta said.

Black 13.8

“You’d think someone who was regressed two years in age to be a teenager again would at least try not to be such a stereotypical teen.”

“What?” I asked. I looked up from my phone, which I was holding so Sveta could read it. She was moving more fluidly to get in a position to read over my shoulder.

“You’re zoomed in on your phone like it’s the only thing in the world,” Tattletale said. “You’re as bad as the Heartbroken.”

“Are you lonely, Tattletale?” Sveta asked. “Sitting up in the passenger seat with only your henchman for company? Were you bored?”

“Ha,” Tattletale replied.