Marcus Webb Asks Some Questions

Marcus caught up with them at lunch.

He appeared at their table with his tray and his notebook and a expression of terrible, cheerful determination.

"Can I sit here?" he asked, already sitting down.

"You are already sitting," Oz said.

"Great," Marcus said. He opened his notebook. "I am doing a piece for the blog. About the Blue Blur."

"Fascinating," Oz said. His voice was perfectly normal. Nadia quietly congratulated him. "I read your piece about the canteen portions. Very thorough."

"Thank you," Marcus said, visibly pleased. "I like to be thorough. So. The Blue Blur. Appeared about a month ago. Always in this area of town. Three confirmed incidents. Whoever it is moves extremely fast, faster than should be possible, and always disappears before anyone can get a good look." He looked at Oz. "Interesting, right?"

"Very interesting," Oz said serenely. Under the table Nadia pressed her foot against his to signal good, keep going.

"I have been trying to figure out who it might be," Marcus said. "I have a theory."

"Do you," Oz said.

"I do. I think it is someone local, obviously. Probably young, based on the size in the footage. And I think it is someone who is very good at being in the right place at the right time." He paused. "Like someone who maybe has a reason to be around town a lot. Someone active. An athlete, maybe."

Nadia kept her face completely neutral. Under the table she pressed Oz's foot again. This was the opening.

"Funny you should say that," she said. "Oz just started training. Didn't you, Oz?"

Oz blinked at her. She pressed his foot harder.

"Yes," Oz said, catching up. "Yes. Speed training. I want to try out for the county athletics team. I have been doing a lot of running around town."

Marcus looked at him. His pen hovered over the notebook. "I did not know you were into athletics."

"I am very newly into athletics," Oz said. "Passionately and suddenly into athletics. It came upon me recently."

"Right," Marcus said slowly. He was still looking at Oz with the expression of someone whose theory was being inconveniently complicated. "And the hoodie today? In September?"

"I run warm," Oz said.

"He really does," Nadia said. "It is a whole thing with him. Doctors are baffled."

Marcus wrote something in his notebook. Nadia could not see what. He looked up.

"Would you be willing to do an interview?" he asked Oz. "For the blog. About your training."

Oz opened his mouth. Nadia pressed his foot. He closed it. He smiled.

"Sure," he said. "Happy to help."

Marcus smiled back. It was the smile of someone who had not yet given up on their theory.

Under the table, Nadia took her foot off Oz's and pressed her hand over her face instead.

This was going to require more work.