Page 97 of Don't Cross Mo Ellery

I didn’t tell anyone where I hid the money.

Except for Tasha.

Chapter 31

Well, this suuuuuuucks.

Tasha took the money.

I’ve only just made the franklydevastatingconnection when something with the heft of an alley rat skitters across my ankles and I leap up, making a break for the back gate as if I need air, as if I’m not already outside, as if I can outrun this discovery. I start walking fast, and the dogs trot to keep up. I half-heartedly collect their leashes as I bombard myself with questions. Does that mean Tasha also killed Claudia? No, that can’t be. Can it? Could she do that and also be so amazing?

My eyes blur.

This whole time, I thought she was the hero, the champion of the underdog, but damn, it sure seems like she’s the villain.

I try to make it make sense. She is a total workaholic. She works onweekends.

Now that I think about it, the only times I see her are when I go to the alderman’s office, or if she’s coming from or going to work.

She loves her job and clearly props Merle up when he’s struggling, sometimes literally. And it also tracks that she’d buy into a break-a-few-eggs-to-make-an-omelet philosophy.

Even if the omelet is a stupid parking garage?

Jean nudges my hand impatiently, and I give him a pat. “All right, yeah, ice cream.”

Fifteen minutes later, we are the proud owners of a couple pints from the corner store. I’ve settled into my pink velour chair, a bowl full of slowly melting ice cream sitting next to me, while over in the designated “kitchen” area of my one room, the dogs are devouring their regular dry food with a tiny bit of ice cream on top. Hopefully, Benny can’t get too mad about that.

I eat a spoonful of my fave—the peanut butter with jelly swirls—but I barely register its reassuring chemical tang.

Because I know what I have to do. I pull out my phone and type a quick message.

Me:Hey Tasha it’s Mo. I mean, obviously, because my name came up. If I’m in your phone. Which I assume I am. Seeing as how you’re in mine

Oh my god.

How am I so bad at this?

I try again.

Me:Wanna hang?

I almost hope I don’t get a response. It would be easier.

But my phone pings immediately.

Tasha:Still at work, sorry!!! Crunch time

Me:Oh ha ha not like right now I meant tomorrow

Tasha:Oof tomorrow also a mess, what about weekend?

I know what’ll get her to see me. Unfortunately, I don’t want to do it any more than she does. My finger hovers over the text screen.

I’ve got to get that money back and figure out how Tasha is mixed up in all this.

Me:I think we need to have that what-are-we relationship chat. Sorry!!!

Ugh.