Turning Angel

better than the rest. But the beautiful people got the monkey on their back too, baby. You’ll see that when you get to Harvard. You can bet your ass those rich kids are snorting and mainlining and everything else. The only difference is, they got better dope. If you ever come down off that high horse, write me back.

”Cyrus thought Kate was getting the pills for herself,“ Mia says.

”She was protecting Drew.“

Mia shakes her head. ”I don’t like Drew too much right now. He was really taking advantage of her.“

I’m disgusted myself, but I’m also excited. If Cyrus White didn’t know Kate was buying the Lorcet for Ellen Elliott, then Shad Johnson can’t possibly learn the truth behind Kate’s visits from any members of Cyrus’s crew. Quentin will be ecstatic over this.

”Look,“ says Mia, reading another note from Cyrus. ”You see what Kate was doing? She was playing Cyrus to keep the pills coming. He wanted her, so he held the dope over her head, and she played the game. I wonder how far she went?“

”Too far, I’m afraid,“ I reply, reading farther down.

You played me, didn’t you, bitch? You made me feel like you saw past my skin and my trade. But you don’t. You made me believe you see me the way you see yourself. But you don’t. To you I’m just another nigger. After you get to Harvard, I’m going to be that big bad black dope dealer you tell colorful stories about, while your spoiled-ass friends laugh. Well, fuck you, bitch! You knew I wanted you, and you held out that pussy like bait to get what you wanted. Just like every other bitch tries to do. But women don’t play that shit with Cyrus. Hear? I got some bitches you ought to talk to about that. They learned quick. You will too. You can hide all you want. You can ignore my e-mail, not answer my calls. But when that dope gets low, you’ll be back. And don’t be trying to get it from Marko. I own that motherfucker. Your best bet is to fake a toothache and go to a horny dentist. You can probably play him for some of what you need. But you won’t make it through the summer, baby. You’ll be back to me. And this time you’re going to pay like all the other bitches. With pussy.

”Holy shit,“ Mia says softly. ”This is scary.“

”This is dynamite is what it is. Are there any more like this?“

”Let’s see.“ She opens another folder containing WordPerfect documents. Most are to-do lists relating to admission to colleges. There are five drafts of essays written for applications.

”Look at this hypertext document,“ Mia says.

The saved Web page is a visual encyclopedia of medications containing hydrocodone. There’s a picture of each brand of pill, and beside each the pharmacological information about it-how much hydrocodone it contains, how much acetaminophen, etc.

”Kate was a comparison shopper,“ I comment.

”She wanted to make sure Cyrus didn’t screw her.“

”In the drug-dealing sense.“

”In both senses,“ says Mia. ”I feel so sorry for her.“

”What’s that?“ I ask, pointing to a Microsoft Notepad document.

Mia opens the file. ”It looks like she copied the text from an e-mail and posted it into Notepad. Holy shit. Look at that.“

I saw you today,it begins.

You were talking to that doctor I see running all the time. Y’all were being shady as shit, too. You found a new source, didn’t you? You didn’t go to a dentist, you went to a doctor. I saw how you were with him. You’re giving your shit to him, all right. He wouldn’t give you the dope without some kind of payment, and what else do you got that he’d want? Of course you won’t see it that way. You probably think you’re in love. Well, I got something for you, Cinderella. You don’t shit on Cyrus and walk away clean. You ain’t clean. And don’t think your doctor man can help you. He may look big, but I’ll take that motherfucker down. How did you get this way, anyway? Does your mama know you do this shit? Or did she TEACH you this shit? I bet that’s it. Have a nice day, okay? Enjoy your ride in that boxy-ass Volvo. It ain’t gonna last long.

”What’s the date of that e-mail?“ I ask.

”There’s no date. It’s just copied text.“

”What’s the date of the Notepad file?“

Mia checks it. ”The twenty-eighth.“

”Three days before Kate was murdered.“

I pull the flash drive from the computer and get to my feet. My neck and back are stiff from staring so intently at the computer.

”What are you going to do?“ Mia asks.

”Get to work. That letter is going to save Drew’s life.“

”Will it, really?“

”This letter alone will create reasonable doubt in the mind of the jury.“

Mia nods, but she doesn’t look convinced.

”What is it?“

”A lot of people get upset when they’re rejected,“ she says. ”You know? A lot of people say they want to kill the person who hurt them. Or at least they think it.“

”Have you ever thought that?“

She looks straight into my eyes. ”Yes.“

”Who was the person?“

She shakes her head. ”I told you I’m not the angel you think I am.“

I want to know more, but right now I can’t make myself concentrate on the love life of my babysitter. It’s late- probably too late to wake Quentin-but I need to get Mia home and start working on Drew’s defense. It’s hard to get my mind around the fact, but his trial begins next Wednesday. At least now we’ll have a big surprise for Shad Johnson.

”You want me to go, don’t you?“ Mia says.

”Well, I’m going to be working all night on subpoenas and things like that. Drew doesn’t have much time.“

”I understand. I’ll go.“ She picks up her backpack and starts toward the door.

”Mia, it’s really late. Let me run you home.“

She stops. ”You don’t have to. I’ve got my car.“

”I’ll follow you then. And tomorrow I’ll let you know everything that happens related to this. I know you want to know about it.“

”I do. Thanks. And to tell you the truth, I don’t feel like driving. I can pick up my car tomorrow.“

”Good.“ I open the leather portfolio I brought Kate’s journal in and zip Kate’s flash drives into one of its inside pockets. Then I slip the envelope containing Marko’s hair into another. ”I’m not letting this stuff out of my sight.“ As I reach for Marko’s flash drive, which is still in my pants pocket, it hits me that Mia is seriously upset. I walk to her and put my hands on her shoulders.

”Mia, I can’t tell you how much help you’ve been tonight. Helping me find Marko, getting these disks hacked. You’ve been critical throughout this investigation. When Drew is acquitted, it’s going to be due to your efforts more than anyone else’s.“

A smile touches the corners of her mouth. ”You really think so?“

”Absolutely. Drew’s going to have to make a large contribution to your college fund.“

She laughs, her eyes sparkling. ”How large?“

”Five figures for sure. Hell, I think it ought to equal Quentin’s fee.“

”You’re kidding, right?“

”I’m not. If Drew doesn’t take care of you, I will. That’s a promise. But he will. I know him. Now, let’s get you home.“

Mia shoulders her backpack and leads the way through the door. As we enter the elevator, though, I realize