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“A kid asked Callahan today whether he’d ever punched anybody.”

Trier lowered the book. “What did he say?”

“That they were doing truck questions right now.”

“That’s very good. I’d have answered ‘yes.’”

“I know.” I started on the next carrot. “He asked the librarian if he could come back when nobody’s booked him.”

“He volunteered for the first one before Leah finished asking.”

“The librarian sent him to volunteer services. He put the contact number in his phone.”

Trier went back to his page. “Good. He shouldn’t have to go through you.”

“She agreed.”

“I like her already.”

“Leah signed off on the special shoot,” I said.

“Did she make any changes?” Trier asked. “Peaches wants to know.”

“It’s what you agreed to. Priya and Ben film from ten. The Storm guys come up at quarter past eleven and leave by quarter to twelve. The cameras stay on the wall unless Peaches walks into the frame on her own.”

“Who’s coming up?”

“Pickle, Adrian, and Hog. Jake and Evan wanted to come, and Pickle told them three was the maximum for a fifteen-year-old cat.”

Trier closed the book on his thumb. “Three’s fine. She’s had worse. The crew’s been in here eight times.”

“Pickle will be louder than the crew.”

“You know who Pickle should meet.”

“Who?” I asked.

“Varga.”

I lined the carrots up on the board and reached for the potatoes. “I’d have to square that with Leah. Are you sure you want the two of them at once?”

“I’d bring popcorn,” Trier said.

“Three strangers plus Varga in your living room. Peaches—“

“Will take it in stride.”

My phone buzzed.

Pickle: Quick question re Saturday. Gifts? Asking for Hog. He wants to know whether to bring her something or whether that’s weird. I said it’s weird. He says it’s polite. Biscuit would want him to do it.

I turned the phone so Trier could read it.

“Tell him no gifts,” he said. “She’ll judge him on his own merits.”

Mark: Tell Hog no gifts. She’ll judge him on his own merits.

I hit send.