Marked by Norah McClintock Read Free Book Online Page B

me. “What are you talking about?”
    I flipped to the first triangle and showed it to her. She frowned.
    â€œThis was on a utility pole near the first house that was robbed,” I said. “It was right in front of number one-zero-five.”
    She was still staring at the triangle. I could tell she didn’t get it.
    â€œAnd one-zero-five is on the south side of the street,” I said. “The house that was robbed was on the north side of the street, exactly nine houses east of where this triangle was.”
    She still didn’t get it.
    â€œIt’s a code,” I said. “
N
for the north side of the street,
E
for the house being east of where the triangle was, nine for the number of houses away.” I flipped to the next triangle and explained that one to her. Then the next one. “You get it?” I said. “Whoever painted these triangles onto those poles was tipping off the thieves.”
    She looked serious as she nodded.
    â€œWhat are you going to do?” she said.
    â€œGo to the cops, I guess,” I said.
    It sounded like a good idea until she said, “Are you sure you want to get involved?”

chapter eleven
    I stared at her.
    â€œWhy wouldn’t I want to get involved?”
    Cody, the German shepherd was nosing around her backpack again. But he was behind Alyssa, so she didn’t notice.
    â€œYou don’t know who the thieves are,” she said. “They break into people’s houses. They’re probably dangerous.”
    I gulped.
    â€œMaybe. But the cops are suspicious of me,” I said. I had already told her aboutthe cops talking to me after the first two robberies. Now I told her about the woman who had accused me of being involved. “She said I’d overheard what she said about her house having no alarm system,” I said. “The cops took me in for questioning. If there’s another robbery, and I just happen to be there, they’re going to arrest me. I just know it.”
    Cody grabbed one of the straps of her backpack and started shaking it.
    â€œHey!” I said.
    She turned to see what was going on. The German shepherd must have thought there were treats in the backpack, because he was shaking it hard. The pack opened up and stuff went flying out—her wallet, a hairbrush, a small ball, probably for playing with Buster. A spray can.
    Alyssa and I stood up at the exact same time.
    We bent down at the same time.
    We both reached for the spray can.
    I picked it up.
    I stared at it.
    It was a can of neon orange spray paint.
    I looked at it, and then I looked at her.
    She spent a lot of time in the neighborhood where the robberies were happening.
    She talked to a lot of people in the neighborhood. I bet she noticed things too.
    â€œYou knew that house didn’t have a real security system,” I said. “You knew because I told you.”
    She picked up her backpack and put her wallet, her hairbrush and the ball into it. Then she reached for the can of spray paint.
    â€œIt’s you,” I said. “You’ve been leaving those codes, haven’t you? You’re a thief.” She used to walk dogs over in Hillmount too. The graffiti had stopped there—no wonder. She was here now. I wondered how many robberies there had been in Hillmount.
    I stared at her. She was so pretty, and she seemed nice. She didn’t look at all like a thief.
    She was calm. She took the spray can from my hand, tucked it into her backpack and pulled the drawstring to close her pack.
    â€œI don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said.
    â€œYes, you do. But I don’t get it,” I said. “You have a job with that vet. You walk all those dogs. Why are you stealing?”
    Her eyes flashed. Boy, did she look mad.
    â€œI’m not,” she said.
    â€œRight. Let’s see what the cops say.”
    â€œI’m
not
stealing,” she said.
    â€œYou’re telling them which