THE HIT LIST:
Character Descriptions

Matt Stevens
Matt is smart, witty, and tough as a steak from the school cafeteria. He’s a middle school Philip Marlowe, a Sam Spade in the seventh grade who’ll do whatever it takes to solve his client’s case, even if it means locking horns with the law, or getting smacked around by one of Vinny Biggs’s goons. Matt’s out to find the kid who took down Nikki Fingers, the most feared squirt-gun assassin at Franklin Middle School….all he’s got to do is sift through the hundreds of enemies she made at the Frank. It should be a piece of cake…rock hard, impossible-to-eat cake…

Vincent “Vinny Biggs” Biggio
Vinny used to be the chubby, little victim of every bully in school, until he discovered the joys of organized crime. With brains to spare and a hefty amount of hired muscle, Vinny slowly and surreptitiously took control of every illegal activity in the Frank. Stolen exams, black-market candy, forged hall passes--Vinny’s got his chubby fingers in all these illegal pies (and more). And you’d better hope you don’t end up on his bad side, or one of his squirt-gun-toting assassins will give you a one way ticket to “the Outs”, the least popular “club” in school. Mess with Vinny Biggs and he will ruin you, completely and absolutely.

Nicole Finnegan (a.k.a. Nikki Fingers)
Fast, sly, and gorgeous, Nikki Fingers was the top squirt gun assassin at the Frank. Nikki broke more hearts than a kid who hates Valentine’s Day. She was responsible for several high profile hits, including Jimmy Forrester (second rate bully and charter member of “the Outs”) and cheerleader Gretchen Jacobson. Nikki had it all: the looks, the money, the power. Then, at the start of seventh grade, she unexpectedly quit and tried to lead a normal life. However her past, in the form of a mysterious hit-kid, finally caught up to her…

Kevin Carling
Kevin is Vinny Biggs’s right hand man. He also used to be Matt’s best friend, but Kevin’s decision to join “the organization” drove a permanent wedge between them. Kevin helped turn Vinny’s operation from a decent moneymaker into a veritable goldmine. Kevin is one of Vinny’s most trusted advisors, and has intimate knowledge of every facet of “the organization.” He is also in love with Nicole “Nikki Fingers” Finnegan.

Liz Carling
Liz is Kevin’s younger sister, and although she doesn’t agree with his desire to be a part of “the organization,” she hasn’t written him off either (and in fact, tends to make excuses for Kevin every chance she gets). Her relationship with Matt is even more complicated… There is definitely something between them, but Matt refuses to excuse Kevin for his decision, and has a hard time with Liz because she does. Still, he finds her cute…and about as fragile as a tanker truck.

Jimmy MacGregor
Jimmy Mac is the Editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper. He is tall for a fourth grader; unfortunately, he’s in seventh. If something happens on school grounds, there’s a good chance Jimmy knows about it. He lives for the breaking story… He is the kid you go to when you need information of any kind. He’s also one of the few kids that Matt trusts.

Jenny Finnegan
Nikki Fingers’s little sister. She hires Matt to track down Nikki’s assassin. Jenny is innocent and naïve, which makes her seem plain in comparison to her sister. That is, until Matt gets to know her better. As he works the case, he tries to keep a lid on his growing interest in Jenny.

Katie Kondo
Chief of the Hall Monitors, Katie is tough, relentless, and built like a cement wall. She does everything by the rules, and has no patience for those who can’t or won’t. She is the first 7th grader ever to make chief, and she’s got the attitude to prove it. Nobody, not even Vinny or his goons, really wants to tangle with Katie.

Melannie Kondo
Katie’s little sister, and Jenny Finnegan’s best friend. She’s a reluctant hall monitor; she wears the right size sash, but it doesn’t seem to fit too well. Small and unassuming, but with a big temper, Melanie isn’t one of Matt’s biggest fans.

Joey “the Hyena” Renoni
Vinny’s main hit-man, Joey inspires fear in everyone he meets… Maybe it’s the high-pitched giggle that comes at the end of each sentence (justifying his nickname). Or maybe it’s because he’s got a short-temper and an itchy trigger finger. Or maybe it’s just because he’s out of his gourd… Joey isn’t a big kid, but he is crazy, and crazy trumps size. Size can be negotiated with. Nobody knows what to do with crazy.