Chapter 60

I clicked off. I kept walking with the dog. I’d found Bing. I’d found, at least, the reason for his mother’s death. I met my mom’s hunky ex-boyfriend. I’d had something of an exciting summer. And still I felt lost, like I had unfinished business, like I’d put all the pieces to that puzzle of mine together and was somehow still missing a piece dead center to it all.

I went home. I was already packed. I told Ma I was going back to San Francisco the next day, bright and early. And no, she wasn’t devastated.

“Chompers will miss you,” she said.

I grinned. “Doubtful.”

I went upstairs. I stared at my cell. I wondered if I should call Bing, at least to tell him what his mom had done, to tell him how brave she’d been, in case he didn’t know. I couldn’t find her murderer, but at least I’d found out that much. It was something, right? I started to dial. I hung up. I dialed again, my heartrate doubling with each ring.