7
Cassie picked up Kevin and his daughter at their loft near the harbor. The scent of ocean mixed with fish guts and diesel followed her up the stairs. She’d always loved that smell; to her it meant adventure.
The door swung open before she could even knock. A slim girl with a sheet of black hair tucked into a haphazard ponytail looked at her warily. She wore a red top that said, “It’s Okay, Pluto, I’m Not a Planet Either.”
“Are you Cassie?” she asked.
“Yes, and you must be Holly. It’s nice to meet you.” She put out her hand, but Holly ignored it.
“Before you come in, you should know this isn’t going anywhere. I feel it’s only fair to inform you of that ahead of time.” She spoke with a rapid-fire smart-girl cadence.
Cassie frowned, confused. “We have to go somewhere if you want to s
