Page 116 of Ruthless Court

She coaches children?

Apparently.

Is that what we’re into now? Responsible women with whistles?

I lock my screen.

It vibrates again.

Cortez to Krista to youth coach. Your range is inspiring.

I throw the phone onto the passenger seat.

The rideshare driver glances at me through the mirror.

“Everything okay?”

“Fine.”

“Relationship trouble?”

“No.”

He nods like I said yes and drives the rest of the way without speaking.

* * *

Eli is waiting outside my room when I get back.

He holds up his laptop.

“I found her.”

“So did I.”

“Then why am I here?”

“You invited yourself.”

“I came for the plot.”

I unlock the door.

He follows me inside and drops onto the couch while I grab water from the refrigerator.

“Sparse online presence,” he says. “Good grades. Chicago. Archaeology. Coaching some independent thirteen-under team near Palo Alto.”

“You found all that in twenty minutes?”

“Most people are easy to find when you know their real name.”

His emphasis is unnecessary.

I drink half the bottle.

“She looks like Bookworm.”

Eli turns the laptop toward me.