Later that night, I woke to the sound of my phone buzzing.
It was a text message from Zoe.
Zoe
Hey, has Maya texted you since this afternoon?
Kiara
Maya never texts me. What’s going on?
Zoe
You remember that book from earlier today?
Kiara
Yeah, what about it?
Zoe
It was stolen from the Fernandez Boticario about an hour ago
Zoe
Miss Maria was there when it happened
Kiara
What?! Is she okay?
Zoe
She was in a different room
Kiara
But honestly, if it’s so valuable, why wasn’t it locked up?
Zoe
It was—the person who stole it carried it off a 200 lb safe.
Kiara
Is that even possible?
Zoe
It’s gone, so I guess so
Kiara
So why are you really telling me?
Zoe
Well, don’t get mad, but...
Zoe
Maya thinks it might have been the boy who followed us
Zoe
The one who knew your name
Kiara
I told you, Zo, I don’t know him
Zoe
And I told you I believe you
Zoe
Besides, no 16 year old could walk off carrying 200 lbs
Zoe
Definitely not without being seen
Kiara
Does Miss Maria think I was involved?
Zoe
The thing is, I think you can help.
Zoe
Figure out who took the book
Zoe
Get it back for Miss Maria
Kiara
That’d be really dangerous, Zo
Kiara
And I don’t think I care enough
Zoe
You’re a terrible liar, Sherlock.
Zoe
Because you can never resist solving a mystery ;)
Zoe
And because you’re a good person.
Zoe
Whatever darkness is following you, Ki…
Zoe
It’s not coming from inside you.
Kiara
I don’t know about that.
Kiara
There’s gotta be a reason I don’t fit in anywhere
Zoe
You belong with the rest of us misfits.
Kiara
I was starting to believe that until today…
Kiara
And I’ve always wanted to belong
Zoe
Well here’s your chance
Zoe
Meet me at the bus stop tomorrow
Zoe
We’ll head across the lake and figure it out together
Zoe
Ki, this is what you do…
Zoe
You notice things no one else does…you find hidden clues, you solve mysteries..
Zoe
So solve this mystery with me—help me find Miss Maria’s book.
Zoe
You be Sherlock Holmes, and I’ll be your Watson.
Zoe
Unless you’ve just been guessing this whole time?
Zoe
You know what I think?
Zoe
I think there’s more to what you do than just seeing things other people don’t.
Zoe
But I don’t think you even you know why you can do it
Zoe
And that’s gotta be scary and confusing
Zoe
So if you WANT to talk, I’m always here for you, but there’s no pressure to try to explain yourself.
Kiara
Thanks, Zo. You’re a good friend.
Zoe
We’re best friends, Ki.
Zoe
See? You have a best friend who isn’t going anywhere.
The next morning, Zoe and I were circling the Fernandez Boticario looking for clues.
Kiara
Did Maya say how the thief got into the shop?
Zoe
Yeah, he broke through the back door.
Kiara
Is there an alley that runs behind all these bars and shops?
Zoe
Yeah, let me show you.
Zoe
What are we looking for?
Kiara
That--next to the garbage bag.
Kiara
Yeah, there’s a footprint in it made by a Doc Martin.
Kiara
The same kind the boy who followed us yesterday was wearing.
Zoe
You remember his shoes?
Kiara
Honestly…I remember everything lately.
Zoe
What do you mean, everything?
Kiara
Everything I hear, smell.
Zoe
Jeez. Could you always do that?
Kiara
Nope, it’s been building over the last year.
Zoe
Still…you know how many people wear Doc’s?
Zoe
Are you sure this print is from him?
Kiara
Not like his. His were old as shit, which means the tread was worn.
Kiara
Just like the footprints here.
Kiara
See the flat areas at the back of the heel?
Kiara
Most sixteen-year-olds grow out of their shoes in a year.
Kiara
But the cute boy has had his shoes a long time.
Zoe
You mean the creepy boy?
Zoe
You called the boy that mugged us cute.
Kiara
Whatever. The point is, he’s had his Doc’s forever.
Kiara
He made these prints. I know it.
Kiara
But his tracks stop here, ten feet from the gate.
Zoe
Maybe he saw it was locked and went back and found another way in.
Kiara
Yea, but the prints don’t go back toward the street.
Kiara
And see how much further apart these three prints are? That means he ran the last few steps.
Zoe
And then what, disappeared?
Kiara
I’m not saying he did. I’m just saying it looks that way.
Zoe
Yeah, that would be nuts.
Kiara
Come on. Let’s go inside.
When we walked inside, the first thing I noticed was that Miss Maria was clearly off.
I knew she was upset, but more than that…
Zoe
Hi Miss Maria. Would it be okay if Kiara and I took a peek in the back room of the shop?
Miss Maria
Why? What are you up to?
Kiara
Nothing. We feel bad about what happened, so we want to help.
Miss Maria
It’s just a book, girls. Nothing for you to worry about.
Zoe
What did the police say?
Miss Maria
The police have better things to do than worry about some worthless book.
Kiara
I thought you said it was valuable?
Miss Maria
Certainly not to the police.
Kiara
Miss Maria, does that book have anything to do with me?
Miss Maria hesitated, casting a sidelong glance at Zoe.
Kiara
You might as well just say it.
Kiara
Even if you wait to tell me privately, I’ll just tell Zoe. She’s my friend.
Miss Maria
It does have to do with you, Kiara, in a way.
Kiara
I don’t understand.
Miss Maria
I can’t explain. Not without the book.
Miss Maria
And my guess is, whoever took it is dangerous
Zoe
Then Ki should get the chance to get it back.
Zoe
Please. Let us look in the back room.
Miss Maria sighed and led us to the back room.
Everything about the place was old and decrepit…
Kiara
They ripped the entire door off?
Miss Maria
Yes. I had to replace the whole thing this morning.
Kiara
You didn’t hear it being ripped off the hinges?
Miss Maria
I was out front on the register.
Zoe
How could someone have gotten in here? What do you think, Ki?
The truth is, I knew from the second I entered the room…
That the creepy boy had been here
But I didn’t want to say it without proof.
Miss Maria
Okay, girls, I need to get back to the shop.
Zoe
Sorry to have bothered you.
Miss Maria
It’s no bother, Zoe.
Miss Maria
Come by any time. You too, Kiara.
Zoe and I turned to leave, but just as I was walking out the door,
Miss Maria grabbed my hand. She leaned close and whispered in my ear.
Miss Maria
DON’T go looking for that book.
Miss Maria
Please. More than a few people have died for it.
