Force of Nature ▸ House of Anubis [3]

chapter sixty-three. house of imposters

Which begs the question—assuming that I'm right (which I like to believe I am at least half the time, but maybe that's the narcissism speaking) and that the entire situation is off, someone may have planted her prints at the scene of the crime to make her look guilty. Knowing Fabian, We all know Fabian, and it's not a surprise he knows how to run and match fingerprints given who he is. It'd be easy to assume that he'd do that to figure it out once we realized someone betrayed us.

I need to consult our favorite criminal. (I love him and he definitely has been better about that sort of thing as of late, but he did just kind of steal my great-grandmother's diary, so...)

While I'm debating myself in my mind, Mara comes in and, oblivious to the tension, sits down. Then, she says to Alfie, a stack of binder-clipped together papers in her hand, "When you've got over yourself, I've got the perfect role for you: Cherry."

I raise an eyebrow. "I thought you and Joy were going with my no guys suggestion?"

"We were, but then I talked to Mr. Sweet," Mara says as Alfie's face becomes confused. "He said we needed at least one boy with a major speaking role in the play. Hence, Cherry." Alfie's eyes are wide now, while Fabian and Eddie are amused. Something tells me Cherry's a comic relief character if Mara says the role is perfect for Alfie. "You do want to pass this assessment, don't you?"

"Yeah, but—" Alfie starts.

"We can't all be the hero."

Mara gets up and leaves, forgetting breakfast. Alfie looks at his own breakfast and remarks dryly, "Well, I guess I better start watching my figure."

"Well, Alfie," I say, trying to make him feel better, "Cherry sounds like he might be comic relief. If anyone can do that, you can."

"Yeah, whatever."

Eddie catches our attentions and lowers his voice. "Now that all the non-traitors of Sibuna are here," well, I'm not so sure about that as I unwittingly glance toward Patricia, "we need to decide what to do about KT."

"It just feels really mean to freeze her out like this," Fabian comments. I nod to agree, pointing my spoon at him, as I can't speak because I've got cereal in my mouth. "I mean, what if I'm wrong? What if she's innocent? Ashley's been saying something's off about this—maybe she's right."

"Okay," Eddie says, "KT handed in her Sibuna badge when she joined Team Evil."

"Guess we just have to keep one eye looking over our shoulder now."

"And the other eye on KT," Patricia states.

"And the other eye on each other," Alfie says, earning confused looks shared between Fabian, Eddie, and myself. We don't have three eyes and I really doubt any of us have an inner eye. "But never fear. Alfredo has eyes like a hawk and stings like a cobra. Nothing's gonna get past me. I got your backs."

Huh.

"Uh, Hawkeye," Eddie says. "Where's Willow?"

Alfie frowns and leaves. Eddie and Patricia follow soon after, leaving me and Fabian.

"Where is Willow?" I ask. "I haven't seen her all morning. You think she went to school early?"

"Probably," Fabian agrees. "I didn't realize you cared so much about Willow. I mean, I know she's dating your best friend, but—"

"Believe it or not, Fabian, Willow's one of the only people who's not driving me insane with paranoia. She's wonderfully disconnected."