next time he comes over for dinner, you can tell him that. See what happens.”
“I did last time. He laughed at me.”
“That’s because it was a dumb thing to say.”
“Positive reinforcement,” Nick reminded him.
“Right. Sorry. It was a dumb thing to say, but you used your words. Proud of you.”
“Thank you.”
“What can you tell us, Chief?” Rebecca Firestone asked.
“Absolutely nothing,” Cap said. “In fact, you already know more than you should. Probably more than we do.”
Rebecca Firestone barely faltered. Some might say she was professional; Nick was not one of those people. “This is the third major criminal operation we’ve seen in the last five months attempt to gain access to Burke Tower. Granted, they have all failed thanks to Shadow Star, but—”
“Not thanks to Shadow Star,” Cap said, glaring at the camera. “Thanks to the hardworking men and women of the Nova City Police Department. We absolutely don’t need these costumed vigilantes flying around with their capes and their powers, trying to—”
“Shadow Star doesn’t wear a cape,” Nick and Rebecca Firestone said at the same time.
Cap turned to stare at Rebecca Firestone.
Dad turned to stare at Nick.
Nick ignored him.
Rebecca Firestone said, “Isn’t it true that Shadow Star has—”
“For all we know, Shadow Star is responsible for these crimes,” Cap said, mustache drooping farther as he frowned. “As a way to increase his profile. These groups could be working for him. A setup to make him look like the hero. Nova City was safer before the Extraordinaries reappeared, and I will do everything in my power to see all of them behind bars.”
“Yes,” Nick said. “Invite Cap over again. I have some things I’d like to discuss with him.”
Instead of responding, Dad reached over Nick’s shoulder and switched off the TV. It was an effective rebuttal. Nick was impressed. Annoyed, but impressed. “I was watching that.”
“Breakfast,” his dad said, like Nick hadn’t spoken at all.
Since Nick was supposed to make this a better year, he didn’t argue, at least not out loud. The retort in his head was fierce and devastating.
“Why weren’t you there?” he asked, pulling at the chair and sitting down.
Dad scrubbed a hand over his face as he sat on the other side of the table. “If I tell you that I was, you get to ask me two questions, and two questions only.”
Nick gaped at him.
Dad put two slices of French toast on his plate.
“But—I want—you can’t just—”
“Two questions, Nicky. Make ’em count.”
His father was amazing. Gruff, but kind. He was good at what he did. When he laughed, his eyes crinkled, the lines around his mouth deep, and that made Nick happy, though it didn’t happen as often as it used to. He was courageous and just, and sometimes, Nick didn’t know what he’d do without him.
But he could also be the biggest jerk. Like right now. “Seven questions.”
“No questions,” Dad replied, handing Nick the butter.
“Six questions!”
“I’m bored with this.”
“You’re terrible at negotiating. How am I supposed to learn how to adult when my parental figure refuses to work with me?”
“Life sucks, kid. Take what you can get.”
“Fine. Two questions.”
Dad pointed his fork at Nick. “While you eat. You took your pill. You need food in your stomach.”
“I’m supposed to wait thirty minutes before—”
“Nicky.”
“What did they want?” Nick asked through a mouthful of French toast.
“I don’t know. I didn’t talk to any of them before they were taken downtown. Cap told me to go home because he knew it was your first day of school. Said to remind you there’s an empty cell with your name on it if there’s a single grade below a B minus on your report card at any point this year.”
“I wonder if the mayor knows that officers in his police department are threatening minors.”
“He does,” Dad said. “And he supports it completely. You get one more question.”
Like he didn’t know what Nick was going to ask. “Did you see him?”
“Yes,” Dad said, mopping up a disgusting amount of syrup.
Nick waited.
Dad said nothing.
Nick could play this game.
On second thought, he absolutely couldn’t. “And?”
“Is that another question?”
Nick barely stopped himself from throwing his fork at Dad’s head. “Why are you like this?”
Dad grinned at him. “Because your adolescent angst brings me joy as a parent.”
“Dad!”
“Yes, Nick. I saw Shadow Star. I even talked to him. In fact, I got his autograph for you. And his phone number. He gave it to me after I told him about your crush on him. He said he’d love to go out on a date