Page 58 of Want to Know a Secret?

I frown. “Did you tell Julie I’ve been stealing money from the PTA?”

“I don’t want to get involved in this. Really.”

“Bullshit.” I feel a vein start to throb in my temple. “You set me up. The same way Owen set Bobby up.”

She laughs. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Owen is seven years old. What exactly are you accusing my son of?”

“I just… I know what you’re up to. Why do you have it in for me? What did I ever do to you?” The vein starts to throb harder. “All I ever did was be friendly to you. I made Bobby be friends with your weirdo kid. I even got Owen on the soccer team.”

“Gee, thanks. That was so kind of you. What a kind, lovely person you are.”

“Is it because your husband thinks I’m attractive?” I remember the way Sean Cooper looked terrified to even breathe on me. “Is that why you hate me so much?”

Maria’s jaw twitches. “Get out of my store.”

“You won’t get away with this.” I jab her in the chest with my index finger. “Believe me, I’m going to make sure everybody knows exactly what kind of person you are.”

I spin on my heel and walk away, before she can get in the last word. I head straight for the corner with the silk scarves, and I hide there for a few moments, trying to compose myself. It’s not like me to talk to people like that—at all. I’m generally very timid.

But it felt pretty good.

Of course, I don’t know what to do next. Maria has it out for me… but why? Did I do something to her?

Maybe the place to begin is with Mrs. Kirkland. I remember what her niece said when she came to visit about that life alert necklace.

She was scared about breaking a hip, you know? I couldn’t believe she didn’t have it on.

I wonder how bad Maria wanted to live in the house next to me…

Could it really be Maria who has been sending me those text messages and writing all those nasty comments on YouTube? Did she throw the rock through my window? It’s so hard to imagine. I only met the woman a few months ago. How could she hate me enough to do something like that to me? Most people like me.

I shake my head. I’ve got to get out of here. I’m not thinking clearly right now. I’m going to go home, take a shower, and maybe bake some cookies. Something will come to me.

But as I reach the exit, an alarm sounds so loudly, they could probably hear it two stores down. I freeze, looking around, utterly confused.

That was the same sound that went off when the babysitter had that necklace in her purse. But I didn’t...

“Ma’am?” It’s the big guy who stands by the entrance. I see now that his ID badge says Bill. “Ma’am, can you step back inside the store please?”

I frown, clutching my handbag to my chest. “Okay, but I don’t know what this is all about…”

“Ma’am, can you please open your purse?”

The few customers in the store have turned to look at me. This is so embarrassing. And the fact that he keeps calling me “ma’am” is only making the situation worse.

“Of course,” I murmur. “But I can assure you, there’s nothing inside.”

Maria has come to join us at the front of the store. Her eyes are cold, but I see a hint of a smile on her lips. I give my purse to Bill, who rifles through it. I feel so exposed. I just want to get this over with and get out of here. I’m starting to feel like this was all a big mistake. I shouldn’t have come here in the first place. This is Maria’s turf. I should have confronted her in a neutral place.

Every set of eyes in the store is on me. I recognize one of the mothers from school. This is not good. I remember when Bill nabbed that babysitter for stealing. The same exact thing happened to her. Everybody passing the store was staring at her as he searched her purse, the same way they’re staring at me now.

And just like back then, Bill pulls a set of silver earrings out of my bag that is clearly from the store.

My heart sinks. Oh no.

“Ma’am,” he says. “I’m going to need you to come to the back with me.”

I can barely gasp for air. “But I didn’t—”