In the Public Eye: Part 35
"OK," I said, "I'll take a look at the recording tonight and put something together for the local news."
"Thanks, Nick," Travis said, "Once we get this asshole off our backs, we can get back to fighting crime instead of other heroes. Which reminds me, how did you end up fighting Tomahawk anyway?"
I told him.
"Red Lightning's lair? That's unbelievable. You've got to take me down there." Travis put down the Denali book and not, I noticed, on the pile. It was placed diagonally next to the pile.
Fighting an urge to pick it up and put it back, I said, "No reason you can't go. Just talk to Vaughn. He let me and Haley in."
"Haley?" Travis looked surprised.
"Yeah. She came along."
"That's good," Travis said. "That's what I was hoping for when I pushed her into the group. Ever since the press went after that wrestler and she quit gymnastics, all she's done is mope around the house."
Evidently she hadn't told him about the two of us going out for coffee. Not that it really was any of his business, but I wasn't going to mention it if she hadn't.
"Did I ever tell you I had a match with that guy in high school? I pinned him." He grinned at me. "I wonder what he's doing now?"
"If he's lucky, he's in California," I said. "Don't they have a statewide, powered high school sports league there?"
"Last I heard they were having financial troubles," Travis said. "Well, anyway, I better get moving. Nice to see you, Nick. Let me know when you're ready."
He left.
I looked down at the picture book, put it back on top the correct pile. On the floor, I could see the imprint of our shoes, small, regular indentations on either side of the coffee table.
I could have pulled out the sweeper and removed them, but I didn't. Instead I walked upstairs, recognizing even as I did so that as gestures of rebellion go, this one was fairly pathetic.