The Quick Fix (26 page)

“Why don't you just ask me?” I said.

“Look who has a high opinion of himself.”

“But a low sense of self-preservation …”

“Vinny and Kevin are both gunning for you now,” she said. “What do you have to lose?”

“Oh, you mean besides everything?”

“Not everything,” she said.

“Yeah, I guess I'll always have family. Is that what you mean, coz?”

“Yeah, about that whole ‘coz' thing …,” she said, and smiled. “I'm adopted.”

I stared at her.

“Some detective you are,” she said, as she grabbed my hand.

Her look of triumph changed to one of confusion when her fingers felt the small piece of paper that I was holding. I smiled at her. She took it and unfolded it. It was a photocopy of a newspaper clipping, one of the two that I had gotten at the library that day. This one was a small story that had been buried in a later issue of the paper, about how Albert Carling had adopted the infant daughter of two out-of-town friends who had been killed in a car accident in New York City.

She looked down at the article and smiled. She didn't read it. I had a hunch she had seen it before. “Well …”

“After I found out the truth about my parents,” I said, “I went looking for other stories, to see what else had been hidden from me. I thought that one was particularly interesting.”

She took my hand again.

“Not bad,” she said.

“I have my moments.”

“So, it looks like our lives just got a little … complicated.”

“Mine's always been complex,” I said. “You're just catching up.”

She smiled and leaned her head against my shoulder. We stood there for a minute, listening to the water as it lapped against the posts of the dock.

“This is going to take some planning,” she said.

“Yeah. Know anyone who's good at that?”

She looked up at me, her head still on my shoulder. “Will you stick with me?” she asked.

“To the end,” I said.

We held each other, and listened to the water.

To my agent, Stephen Barbara, for his patience, support, and DYJ attitude.

To my editor, Susan Van Metre, for her patience, kindness, and exceptional judgment.

To my film agent, Jason Dravis, for his patience and understanding.

To my mom, dad, sister, Nonnie, and the rest of my family, for their patience, support, and love.

To Steve & Sarah, Melissa & Peter, Joe, John & Mel, Bill, and the rest of my friends, for their patience and true friendship.

To my wife, Teryse, for her patience and unconditional love.

To Emily and Matthew, for their patience and joy, their innocence and unpredictability.

And lastly, to Bobby Grether … You may not remember, but you stood up for me when I was unwilling or unable to stand up for myself. I wish every kid who had to face bullies had someone like you to watch out for them. Thank you.

Jack D. Ferraiolo
is the developer and Emmy Award–winning writer for WordGirl. He's the author of the Edgar Award nominee
The Big Splash
, which the
New York Times
called “entertaining and thrilling” and
Publishers Weekly
called “ingenious junior high noir.” His second book,
Sidekicks
, received starred reviews from
Publishers Weekly
and
School Library Journal
and was named one of the Best Books for Kids 2011 by
Kirkus Reviews
. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two kids. Visit him online at
www.jackferraiolo.com
. And send him an e-mail sometime. He misses you …

The print version of this book was designed by Chad W. Beckerman.

is the author of
Sidekicks
and
The Big Splash
, which the
New York Times
called “entertaining and thrilling” and
Publishers Weekly
described as “ingenious junior high noir.” He grew up in southern Connecticut and still considers middle school to be the toughest time of his life. He now lives in northern Massachusetts with his wife and two children. He's also a development executive at Soup2Nuts, an animation production company. He has developed and writes for
WordGirl
on PBS, for which he won an Emmy. Visit him online at
www.jackferraiolo.com
.

Jacket illustration © 2012 Joshua Middleton
Jacket design by Chad W. Beckerman

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