Page 95 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“I didn’t even realize.I was so focused on calming the baby.”Beatrice turns to Tasha’s son.“Next time I will bring candy, but I don’t think you’re allowed to eat in the library.”
“We can go home for lunch now,” Tasha says to her son.“You’re probably hungry.”
I retreat to a corner of the library, where hopefully Beatrice can’t see me.
Tasha:Beatrice left.
She soon joins me and hands me the thick envelope.“I can’t believe that worked, and we got it.”
“I know.You were brilliant!”I say.
“Youwere brilliant,” Tasha says.“I didn’t see her even register your touch.”
I open up the thin envelope.
It’s a handwritten letter.
Repairs need to increase.I’ll give you a 30% cut.Be careful.Vultures circling.
“This is it!This is the evidence I needed.”I want to do a dance of joy.“I have a sample of Commissioner Ward’s handwriting and a sample of Commissioner Pommer’s handwriting.”I pull up the photos on my phone of my mailing list and the books signed by the deputy commissioners.We compare the scripts.
Commissioner Ward
Commissioner Pommer
Commissioner Galliano
It’s Ward!!We have the proof that it’s Commissioner Ward.
“It’s Ward, then.It’s the same handwriting,” I say.
“Exactly the same,” says Tasha.
We stare at each other.
“We did it.We solved this,” I say.
“We make a great team,” Tasha says.
We open up the thick envelope, and it's filled with two thousand dollars.I take a photo and put the money in a new envelope.We replace the envelope in the book.
“What happens now?"Tasha asks."You’ll stay to see if Ward comes by to pick up the envelope?”
“Yes.I’ll write my article while I wait.It might take me a few days, but then I’ll hand it in to my boss.She’ll have revisions and questions.I’ll text you when it’s going to be published.Thank you so much!”
“Thank you,” she says.“I can’t believe we actually figured it out.”
“It’s a feeling like no other, right?”I ask.
It’s such a shot of adrenaline when I find the missing pieces and solve an investigation.And then there’s the thrill of writing it and sharing it with readers.I can’t wait to tell Jing tonight at her New Year’s party.This article will be a joy to write.I pull my laptop out of my bag and start typing.
Chapter twenty-eight
Nick
Maddie:Huge news.Call me after your concert tonight.I’ll wait up.
Me:Are you okay?Did they find the intruder?
