The Infamous Frankie Lorde 1, page 19
And then another person joined in, and another, until the whole place had erupted in applause.
With one last glance at the mutiny around her, Annabelle finally stalked off toward the bathroom, her friends following close behind, heads all tilted toward the ground.
I took a deep breath and then, without looking at anyone else, caught up to Ollie, and we walked outside together.
“That was better than the series finale of Game of Thrones,” Ollie breathed once we were a decent distance away from the school.
I just looked at him and rolled my eyes.
“You know you didn’t have to do that,” he said, suddenly serious. “They’re gonna make you their target from now on.”
“I did have to do it, Ollie,” I said, stopping midstep and turning to face him. “I couldn’t let them do that to you. It wasn’t right. And it wouldn’t have been right if I’d stood by and let it happen. Ollie, you’re my—”
Ugh, the moment was bordering on an after-school special and I really didn’t want to have to admit out loud all this mushy gushy stuff. So I stopped.
“Frankie Lorde, are you trying to say that I’m…your best friend?”
“I didn’t say that,” I argued, already feeling annoyed by the smile that had erupted on his face.
“Admit it, you’re obsessed with me,” Ollie said teasingly. “You want to have slumber parties and talk about boys and make BFF bracelets—”
“You are such a dork!” I screamed, but I’d already begun to laugh.
We started to walk again, this time in silence. But after a few steps, Ollie cleared his throat, and I looked at him.
“So what’s the next job?” he asked, a smile playing on his lips.
“Well, Ollie,” I answered. “I’m glad you asked….”
Acknowledgments
I feel like a lot of things had to align perfectly in the universe to make this book happen. First and foremost, I have to thank Bethany Buck, editor extraordinaire, for falling in love with Frankie before I’d even named her, and for seeing the potential in both me and the book. The experience of writing this with you has truly been a delight and privilege. Thanks to my marvelous agent Reiko Davis for taking a chance on me when nobody else would. I feel so lucky to have you in my corner.
Kristin Bell and Rob Thomas…thank you for inspiring me to create badass female characters who are complicated, funny, daring, and marshmallowy. I like to think there’s a little bit of Veronica Mars in Frankie.
To my friends: Colleen, thank you for all the inside knowledge you gave me on Greenwich. You couldn’t have been a better tour guide and friend. And Sailor, you’re the coolest middle schooler around. To all the mommies at Discovery, thank you for your friendship and smiles as we trudge this road called motherhood together. Frack, nobody was happier or more excited for me than you were when I got this book deal. You’ll always be my soul sister. Mary Rose, thank you for your encouragement when I wasn’t feeling very creative and for helping me to come up with appropriate put-downs for my characters. You’re such a jerk face. Natasha, our friendship has been fast and furious, but you’ve already proven to be one of my most loyal confidants. Lastly, Mikey and Lauren, you guys have been there for me through the good times and bad. There’s no one tougher, lovelier, smarter, or funnier than you two. You’ve been my lifelines. Mamma’s for life!
Andrea, thanks for always treating me like your daughter and for helping me brainstorm titles for this book. Price, I appreciate the legal advice you gave me while writing my courtroom scene…even if I did end up taking some fictional liberties.
Mom and Dad, thanks for all your love and support, and for always encouraging me to follow my passion. I’ll try to keep making you proud. After all…I am your favorite.
Jacey, thank you for continuing to be my #1 fan and inspiring me every day just by being you.
To the rest of my family who’ve always had my back: Amy, Cody, Cash, Riley, Katy, Ryan, Robin, River, Oma, Aunt Marsha, Uncle Mike, Aunt Mary, Chelle, Maya, Daniel, Dan, Karin, Michael, Justin, Julia, James, Kelly, Tommy, Lily, Laney, Andrew, Billy, Auntie Anne, Aunt Denise, Aunt Mary Ellen, Aunt Mary, Uncle Nick, and Aunt Claudette. I’m grateful for each and every one of you.
Kayla, I literally couldn’t have written or edited this book without you around. Thank you for letting me talk your ear off about Frankie and her adventures, and for being one of the first people to read the finished book.
Huck, thanks for keeping yourself occupied and not destroying the house (too much), while mommy was writing this book. You’re my favorite troublemaker. Grey, your brother never let me write while I was pregnant with him. Thank you for being more agreeable and allowing me to keep hold of some of my energy while you were growing in my belly, so I could also bring Frankie to life. You’re such a cool character!
Finally, Matt, thank you for introducing me to Pixel+Ink and making this all possible in the first place. Also, for continuing to believe in me so much that you don’t mind bringing home the bacon so that I can spend my days making up stories. You’re my ultimate partner in crime.
Ever since she and Ollie took down Christian Miles, Frankie’s been itching to find her next mark…
And she might’ve just found it. While volunteering at a local animal shelter over winter break, Frankie and Ollie get word that there’s a dangerous exotic-animal farm supplying Greenwich’s elite with lions and tigers and bears (oh no!).
Feeling an instant kinship with the endangered creatures locked away in their cages, Frankie makes it her mission to find the perpetrators, free the beautiful beasts, and ensnare the bad guys in a trap of her own.
Now if she could only shake the feeling that her time in captivity has dulled her own instincts, she might just be able to pull off one of the most dangerous—and wild—heists of her career.
Brittany Geragotelis, The Infamous Frankie Lorde 1
