“Kid, come here,” said Rusty. “I’ve got a favor to ask you.”

Linus appeared in the connecting doorway of the suite, chewing gum and smoothing his palms over his thighs. Nervous. That’d never do. “Yeah, Rusty.”

“You know Tess?” Rusty shook the box of Mike-and-Ike, trying to dislodge the one last piece of candy, stuck to the bottom. It was a cherry piece, too. Rusty loved the cherry ones.

“The one we saw earlier, right? Benedict’s girl?” Linus rocked up and down on his heels.

Just hearing that made Rusty wince internally. Tess was many things, but definitely not Benedict’s girl. At least in Rusty’s mind. “Yeah. Her. She’s Danny’s ex.”

The expression on the kid’s face was priceless. “She’s, uh, wait, she’s – what?”

“That leads me to my favor. Everyone’s kind of got their hands full right now, but your part doesn’t come in until later. So, until then, do you mind tailing Danny for me?”

“Why Danny?” Linus paused. He was young, but he wasn’t stupid – Rusty had to give him that. Linus then said slowly, “You really think – he wouldn’t do anything to… Danny’s not going to do anything.”

“No,” said Rusty, tipping his head back and shaking the box of Mike-and-Ike into his mouth. The candy came free and he tilted his head forward again, chewing. “No, he won’t. But in case he does. That’s why I’m here.”

Linus nodded. “Sure. I… sure.”

Rusty trashed the empty candy box and opened the tiny hotel fridge. He wondered if those chocolate chip cookies were still in there… Ah-ha. “Don’t let him see you.”

Linus practically rolled his eyes. “I know that.”

“Okay. Fine. You know that. So go on.”

Rusty shook his head as Linus exited the hotel suite. He bit into a cookie.

Poor kid. He won’t know what hit him.