Sliced Bread 2: The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread

Here's what happened. I got to the office the other morning and Greyghost called me into the blue room. Cruickshank was there too.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Claudia Calhoun," Cruickshank said.

"...Girl Reporter," I added.

"What?"

"You have to say it like that," I explained.

"Why?"

"I just always think it has a ring to it."

They stared at me blankly.

"Anyway," I said, sitting down, "Claudia Calhoun, of the Empire City Moon." Even more of a ring to it.

"She's after Greyghost's secret identity," Cruickshank said.

"Like she did with Surefire," I said. "Wow. She getting anywhere?"

"Not really sure," Cruickshank said.

"This is your new top priority," Greyghost said. "Show Perseid how to handle the office. I want you to stop Miss Calhoun from discovering my identity."

"No way," I said before I even had the chance to think about it.

"Why the hell not?" Cruickshank said.

"Because she isn't a supervillain!" I said. "She's a citizen with a job. You don't want her finding out your real name, do a better job of hiding it. She's acting entirely within her rights."

"I am doing a better job of hiding it. I'm directing my employee to see to the details."

"I think it stinks," I said. "The whole trouble with superheroes is that they aren't accountable. Well, she's making you accountable and you don't like it, so you sic me on her. What do you want me to do--shoot her? Steal her notes?"

"I expect you to follow my instructions. Show Perseid how to handle the office. Stop Miss Calhoun from discovering my identity."

I didn't say anything.

"Dennis."

"I think I'm on her side," I said. "Exposing superheroes' secret identities is exactly the sort of thing reporters should be doing. You don't think the public has a legitimate interest?"

"I cannot operate if my identity is revealed."

"Then stop her yourself. I'm not an assassin, or a, a, a counterintelligence guy, or a damn superhero. You want somebody to step on her? You do it."

"No. You're going to do it," he said, and stalked out.

"I'm not shooting anybody," I called after him.

"I can't believe what a smart mouth you've got on you," Cruickshank said, and left me sitting there.

I still don't know what I'm going to do. I've been showing Cassie the ropes in the office, and going over the material Cruickshank has on what the reporter's been up to, but I don't even know if I want to do this. Maybe I should quit.