The Frame-Up (The Golden Arrow #1)

by Meghan Scott Molin

Trogdor yaps like mad, and I have half a mind to move the leg I’m using to block the door and let this guy’s shins get nipped by my dog.

TROGDOOOOR!!

Matteo squats, peering at Kyle’s chair with what I assume is a fake aura of professional capability.

You have assumed everything about every man so far is fake

This man is thoroughly enjoying watching me sputter. This man has my head spinning so fast, I’m losing track of what I’m reacting to.

ALL HE DID WAS INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND FIX A CHAIR???

“You’re so different when you talk about this. Like The Hooded Falcon is real to you.” That irks me more than anything else he could have said. I’m so sick of ComicsGate and everything this industry throws in my face about being a girl who loves comics.

Or maybe he's just remarking on how your attitude changed while talking about something you love? Who messed you up this bad? What is this defense mechanism for everything a man says or does??

Why does everyone assume I can’t tell reality from fiction when it’s my job to write?

He's NOT though. He's so obviously not. Are you an alien from another planet?

He waves as he drives off in his ridiculous tiny car, and I turn to greet my ridiculous small dog.

Okay this phrasing did make me laugh.

“Honey, you left your coffee in the car,” a voice cuts me off mid-explanation. Already the executives are looking over my shoulder at the door behind me. Andy’s face registers shock, then something like . . . glee? “Oh. Oh. Hello again.” I whirl around because I have the sneaking suspicion that I’m going to find a tall, dark, and handsome tea drinker behind me.

Okay that is inappropriate af. THIS is when your attitude should be used!!

“You—” “Are too sweet. Yes, I know. Have a good day at work, pumpkin.”

UGHHHHHHHH I WOULD MURDER HIM. I WOULD MURDER THE DETECTIVE XDDDD

Sure, Andy somehow managed to make it sound flashier than I had in my presentation, but surely everyone at the table realizes that Andy just presented my idea again.

But this isn't what you proposed. You realize I can go back and read it, right?

“no apologies” is my number-one rule,

This is a bad rule.

I stare up through the windshield, first at the building, then covertly at Detective Kildaire. The full weight of his job and why we’re here hits me like a punch from The Thing. I’ve now yelled at, thought about kissing, and threatened the physical well-being of an officer of the law. Without the station and the car, he’s just a cute, slightly annoying guy. Now, watching him climb out of the car, throw his suit jacket on, and check to make sure his badge is in his pocket . . . it’s real. I fight back a groan. I’ve made a pretty awesome idiot out of myself. My palms are sweating, and my nerves resurface.

Actually a good little passage.

No need to remind me of my parents’ house where everything is monogrammed, matchy-matchy, gender specific,

Well they named you Michael so how gender-conforming can they be?

Matteo gives me a weird look when I move my coat, but I ignore it.

You just walked into someone's house, hung your coat up in the correct spot, then grabbed it back and threw it over their couch. Everyone would wonder wtf was up after witnessing that

“Yeah, sure.” Rabbit food. Probably without dressing. He notes my displeasure, though I try to hide it. Is he this observant with every person of interest or just me?

I'm sure you're very subtle.

I refuse to admit that I make snap judgments about people, despite what Lawrence says, but I will admit to having fantastic instincts about people.

O RLY?

He takes in my bright-blue cheetah yoga pants and black T-shirt. “Looks like a real ballbuster day at the office.” I will not laugh. We’re serious work partners now. This is a business meeting.

And dammit, he smells good. Who wears . . . I sniff . . . awesome-smelling laundry detergent to a work meeting? Look at me, weak-kneed from laundry detergent fumes. I definitely have been dating the wrong people if clean clothes are a turn-on.

This was obvious from the everything about you, but I will admit there is an appeal in a man that does his own laundry XD

He also doesn’t bat an eyelash at the bedazzled paisley headscarf Lawrence has wrapped around his head today or the bright-silver polish on his nails.

He's LAPD. Of course it's not gonna faze him.

“Is that another one of the jokes I don’t get? Like a Japanese cartoon thing? Or an online meme?” He says “meh-muh,” and I stifle a laugh.

oh god

I wiggle forward so my feet dangle off the edge of my bed, trying to extricate myself from the force of gravity that Matteo’s larger person exerts on my smaller frame.

Interesting way of saying he's sinking into the mattress more than you because he's heavier

Lawrence doesn’t look put out like Ryan does. He looks gleeful. “Girl, that man is Atlanta, Georgia, in Ju-ly, and he can come and build me a tower anytime.”

This made me laugh XD

“I’m glad you made it. Traffic is horrible today. Everyone is a lookie-loo.”

Well that alone is costing you 10 cool points, Mr. Detective XD

I reach forward for a quick handshake from both, used to leading out. God help the man if he does that limp-finger “lady handshake” thing.

You're horrible

Detective Rideout

I know I just called MG horrible, but already sick of reading your name XD Deepest apologies~

You can always tell a true comic book fan by their knowledge and love of a good origin story. Falcon’s is the best in my opinion, and Rideout has sunk lower in my estimation for his failure to latch on to the tie-in.

The nerd elitism is getting old.

He’s relaxed in jeans and a new button-down shirt, his cheeks clean-shaven, his dark eyebrows furrowed over the task of placing the mugs and saucers on the counter in a neat line. It’s . . . adorable. And that odd sense of intimacy hits me again before I’m ready for it. Like I’m peering into his soul without his permission.

As the door opens, I school my features, trying to look like I’m not snooping in my coworkers’ lives in order to solve a drug-related crime spree.

Should be easy since no one would ever think that XD

heady

I hate this word. Not holding it against the author or anything, just don't like it

After the spirit animals conversation, Matteo sticks to me like glue. I’m his life raft in this sea of awesome. “Oh good, I’m curious about these Star Wars movies. I’ve heard about them a lot since meeting MG.”

O.O!!!!! WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And sometimes all it takes to make your day is seeing your jerk of a boss in an interrogation room at the police department. The satisfaction I feel watching him nervously sip the water on the table makes up for a lot of the grief he’s given me over the years. I’m heady with power as I realize I can have Matteo ask him anything I want.

But won't everyone know he's a detective now? Also, THERE'S THAT WORD AGAIN x.x

Lawrence becomes the number-one target. We need to wrap this up yesterday.

We're forgetting that Ryan knows stuff regarding Senior too

Something clunks inside the frame again as we shift it wildly, trying to unhook the wire from the mounting device.

Well, gee, I wonder if something is in the frame XD

Finally the frame leans against the wood-paneled wall, and I behold in triumph a small safe in the wall behind the desk. “Just like in the comic books.” Call me Professor X. I’m a brain-ninja to find this.

He was a mind reader, not a clairvoyant.

“Lawrence showed one to me. I showed it to you and Detective Rideout, and you showed it to Casey Junior.” A very short list.

Also Ryan.

How would the Golden Arrow have known to even look in this office if he didn’t know the journal existed? Was he just going off the comic books? I press my lips together. It seems unlikely. It’s like the Golden Arrow sees everything I do, and that idea gives me the willies.

Almost like he lives with you.

I shrug and sip my beer. “If you don’t pay no tolls, you don’t get no rolls.”

This is the first reference that made me laugh.

The point still stands that Matteo is in Kevlar, and here I am parading around in pleather. I’ve really misread the situation’s danger level.

I was just saying this a sentence ago XD

My voice shakes as I draw a deep gasping breath. Maybe because I’d just had the most intense first kiss of my entire life in the alcove of a warehouse? Or because things are exploding and the man I was just kissing is already holding a gun?

You got purple lipstick on and it's probably smeared EVERYWHERE if the author remembered it was there and it's really killing the tension right now because I'm dying from the mental images XDDD

Worrying about work should be illegal while your best friend is in hiding, your pretend boyfriend keeps asking if you’ve heard from him, and you’re analyzing every fact you know about a thirty-year-old murder in your spare time.

Does he know L does your hair because then it's SUPER obvious you saw him

Usually I’d respond with an “I got this, no problem,” but I am s-t-u-c-k stuck, and my brain can’t seem to come up with anything original. New MG thinks that just maybe having Kyle help won’t be so bad.

New MG certainly is much less annoying

I’m surprised at the straightforward compliment. Two points for no womanly, manipulative mind games. “Thanks.” “But you tend to isolate yourself.” Or not. Ouch.

That's not a womanly manipulative mind game. You very obviously took the loner path. Are you switching to being anti-trusting-women now? I WAS JUST COMPLIMENTING YOU!

I make a show of asking him to do a twirl of his own in my entryway. “You, however, are not dressed properly for the gala. Matteo, this is a costume ball.” He shifts uncomfortably. “I brought this.” He holds up a black plastic Zorro mask,

OH GOD

“Oh hey, MG!” Ryan’s gaze flicks from me to Matteo,

Thank you for not saying flickers. Truly, from the bottom of my heart.

We’ve both been so busy this week. In fact, I’ve hardly seen Ryan all month. He’s watching Matteo with a hostile look that makes me think I know why Ryan’s being weird.

Well I've already voiced my suspicions about Ryan.

My heartbeat accelerates. Not only is he a man in uniform tonight; he’s a man in costumed uniform. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything so sexy in my entire life.

Matteo clears his throat. “No, we were engaged.”

HAHAHAHAHSHSDHYGJHFH SHIT xDDDD

Offering to give up the case proves Matteo is true. Honest. The double agent would never give up control, and I need an honest cop at the helm of this, no matter what happens.

Wait, wait! THATS why you're not gonna let him give up his case? SERIOUSLY?! Not because he shouldn't be sabotaging his career for your feelings?!

If I turn this over, the journal pretty much frames me as the Golden Arrow or, at the very least, an accomplice. I offer a small smile. “I guess that would be one way to solve the problem between us?” Matteo grits his teeth. “I can’t date a suspect either.”

I feel like the italics should be on suspect and not date

Ryan

RYAN! *exaggerated glare*

I fight the urge to stop and take pictures every four steps; people have taken Genius characters and created costumes that any designer would covet.

I feel like taking pictures of other people's designs would cause legal problems as someone who works at the actual company that makes the characters they're cosplaying as.