Page 27 of Want to Know a Secret?

“I didn’t put that there! It… it must have fallen inside…”

The guard shakes his head. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to call the police.” He looks to the back of the store. “Maria? We have a shoplifter here and I’m calling the cops.”

I only wish Carrie were here to see the look on the babysitter’s face. She looks like she’s about to pee her pants, especially when Maria strides over with a cold, almost chilling expression in her eyes. Maria can be pretty badass when she wants to be. I wouldn’t have thought so.

“Please don’t call the police.” The babysitter is crying now. “Please. I swear I didn’t take the necklace. I don’t know how it got in my purse.”

Maria’s expression is impassive. “It doesn’t help to lie.”

“Please, you have to understand…” The babysitter swipes at her eyes. “I got arrested for shoplifting a year ago, and the judge said if I got caught again…”

“I’m sorry.” Maria doesn’t blink. “Our store policy is to prosecute all shoplifters.”

The babysitter is still sobbing as they call the police. It’s funny because I always thought of my friend Julie as the person you could never mess with. But as it turns out, Maria is not somebody to mess with either.

I would never want this woman to be mad at me.

Chapter 13

To: Book Club Group

From: Julie

Subject: Re: Food items

Please share with the group which item you will be bringing as a refreshment to our book club meeting this week, so that we don’t replicate dishes. I will be bringing mini quiches from Giorgio’s.

To: Book Club Group

From: April

Subject: Re: Food items

I was thinking about making apple pie turnovers. Does that sound good to everyone? Or if not, I could just make a tray of brownies. Whatever you guys want!

To: Book Club Group

From: Carrie

Subject: Re: Food items

I will be bringing the heart of the babysitter on a stick. Kidding! Unfortunately. I’ll probably bring chips and dip.

April, my vote is for the turnovers. The last time I ate one of your brownies, I gained five pounds.

To: Book Club Group

From: Julie

Subject: Re: Food items

Please no store-bought salsa, Carrie.

To: Book Club Group

From: Maria

Subject: Re: Food items