TweetyGram

8 - #TBT

"I can't believe it," I grumbled, flopping down onto the sofa. "It's been almost a week, and Nat still hasn't told me what her brilliant idea is."

"I'm sure she'll tell you soon." Bree emerged from her room looking like a goddess. Her soft yet glamorous makeup highlighted her best facial features, her emerald-green gown complemented her auburn hair, and her yellow-gold jewelry added a perfect sparkle to her evening attire.

"Well, well. Someone's dressed to impress," I teased.

"I can't go to a black-tie event full of potential investors dressed like a bag lady, can I?"

"Oh? Are you sure that's all? Sure you're not trying to attract the attention of a certain dashing, thirty-year-old CEO whose name rhymes with playboy?"

Her mouth twitched, but she quickly recovered her poise. "Cut it out, Linds. My relationship with Mr. Lovejoy is strictly professional."

"If you say so," I sang.

Bree and her boss, Ryan Lovejoy, had been friends before they started working together. Although she never wanted to admit it, she'd always been attracted to him. I was sure the feeling was mutual. Yet for some reason, those two idiots kept denying their feelings toward each other.

"How's the victim interview going?" Bree glanced at the empty portable whiteboard in the living room.

"Thanks to Fiona, I've interviewed four more victims so far, but they're all saying the same thing. They think the Wolf is someone who works on the Malibu set, an expert in TweetyTune, and a really, really kind person—except that they've just run away with those poor girls' money, that is."

Those poor girls, huh?

I flipped my notebook open and read my notes.

Kristen Cafferty. Age: 15. Boston, MA.

Angela Park. Age: 16. San Francisco, CA.

Mariana Hernandez. Age: 15. Greenwich, CT.

Eve Talbot. Age: 16. New York City, NY.

Olivia Walker. Age: 17. Los Angeles, CA.

The Malibu Wolf's victims lived in different cities, but all of them were high school students. It could be a coincidence, but my gut said there was more to it.

"I take it you found something?" Bree asked.

"Maybe. I'll know more when I talk to Olivia. I'm having a TweetyMeeting with her in about twenty-five minutes."

The Olivia Walker who had informed Nat about the Malibu Wolf was the same girl I'd tutored two years ago. She also happened to be the user who first posted about the Malibu Wolf on IHeartMalibu.com. When I contacted her three days ago, she was more than happy to help me with my investigation. But since she was staying with her dad in the Hamptons for the summer holiday, we had to do the interview via video call.

"Good luck." Bree patted me on the shoulder. "I'm gonna be home late. Don't wait up, okay?"

I sucked in a fake gasp. "You're going to stay at Ryan's place tonight?"

Her eyes almost bulged out of her head, and her face flushed bright red. "Stop it, you little—"

The knock on the door stopped Bree from beating me into a pulp.

"Not. A. Word," Bree threatened.

I closed my mouth with a pop before pretending to zip my mouth shut and throw away the key.