Page 23 of The Woman with the Wallet

I reached for some of the peas as Megs held one bag to my cheek, seeing that there were red marks on my wrists that I suspected might darken to bruises, given some time.

“Did you get a good look at him?” Nicole asked, likely still thinking about the police, sketch artists, shit like you saw on TV that didn’t often happen the same way in real life. Not over a petty burglary.

My gaze cut to Miko’s, knowing he was thinking the same thing.

I gave him the smallest of nods while I lied to the girls. “No.” Then, because I felt immediate guilt about the lie, I added, “He had a ski mask on.”

“Oh,” Nicole said, sounding disappointed.

Megs, bless her, sensed I had enough of the questions and suggested she and Nicole start setting things to rights.

“Guys, I’m gonna go get some ice pops for my throat,” I said, watching Megs’s eyes go sad again.

“I’ll go get them.”

“No, no. It’s okay. I want some air,” I said.

“I’ll go with you.”

“No!” Megs yelped, rushing forward, making her girlfriend frown.

“Megs, it’s okay,” I told her, giving her a reassuring nod.

“No. We’ll all go,” Megs insisted, casting distrustful glances at Miko.

“Megs, you have something in your teeth,” I said, knowing Nicole and Miko were likely confused, but that Megs would get it.

When you were two girls alone in the world, it was important to have a little code. Things you could say that would let the other one know that something is okay, kind of shady, or outright scary.

For them, ‘You have something in your teeth’ was one that assured the other that, despite appearances, things were okay.

If she’d said something along the lines of ‘Crazy weather we’re having,’ then Megs would know shit was not good.

“You’re sure?” she asked.

“Yeah. Go check that out,” I said. “I’ll be back in a little bit. I have my phone,” I told her, reaching to grab it, then wave it at her. “Ready?” I asked, looking at Miko.

“Yeah,” he agreed, reaching for his own phone, shooting off a text.

With that, we moved out into the hallway together, then waited at the elevator, both of us ignoring the concerned looks from a group of passing women.

It wasn’t until the doors slid shut that anyone spoke.

“What does Megs know?” Miko asked.

“That I stole your wallet,” I told him.

“Not about the diamonds?”

“God, no. She would have lost her shit.”

“And her girlfriend?”

“Doesn’t know anything about my little… hobby.”

“You pick pockets as a hobby?”

“It used to be a full-time hustle,” I admitted. “Back when Megs and I were on the street. But I’ve branched out now.”

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