Least Wanted (Sam McRae Mystery 2)

She must have been talking about Iverson Mall, which wasn’t far from her house.

“Why didn’t you go to school?”

She shrugged. “Jus’ wanted to take a break.”

“What did you do Wednesday? The mall or her house?”

“We was at her place. I did go by my house that morning to get some stuff, ’cause I wanted to stay at Rochelle’s again that night. I figured I’d slip in while my moms was asleep, but she wasn’t.”

Tina’s mouth curled down at the sides. “She see me and, suddenly, she be all in my face, yellin’ an’ callin’ me worthless an’ shit.” Tears began to flow down her cheeks again and she swept them away with the palm of her hand. “Like she so much better,” she added, in a tight voice.

“Did your mother ever hit you?”

“Sometimes, when she been drinkin’. She was a lot meaner that way when she was on crack.”

“But she kicked that habit, right? And stayed clean?”

“I dunno. I guess so.”

“Did she hit you that day?”

She shook her head.

“Tina, did you love your mother?”

She shrugged again. “I dunno. I guess. Ain’t you s’posed to?” She turned a puzzled, anguished gaze my way. “I do know I din’t kill her.” Her voice cracked with sorrow. “Even if she din’t love me, I wouldn’t do that.”

Her sorrow and frustration felt real to me, and I’ve dealt with my share of liars. Losing her mother was bad enough. Feeling like Shanae hadn’t loved her must have been a crushing blow, made worse by her own ambivalent feelings.

“Tina, she was probably under a lot of stress, not only about you, but about money. Her job. I’m not trying to make excuses for her, but maybe she just wasn’t good at expressing her love.”

Another shrug. “Whatever.”

“So that night, what did you do?”

“Like I say, jus’ hung out in Rochelle’s room watching TV. Some friends came over.”

“You didn’t go anywhere?”

She shook her head. “Naw.”

“And Rochelle’s mother didn’t mind your staying over?”

“Rochelle’s mother don’t care about none of that.”

It was time to ask the $25,000 question. “Is it true that Rochelle is the leader of a girl gang called the Pussy Posse?”

Tina froze. An eye twitched. “Who tole’ you that shit?”

“A reliable source.”

She paused. “I ain’t never heard of them.”

“Are you sure? Was the purse snatching an initiation rite for getting into the gang?”

Tina worked her mouth a bit. “I dunno ’bout no gang.”

“This is important, Tina. I need you to be honest with me,” I said, as forcefully as possible. “I heard Rochelle heads a gang called the Pussy Posse. Is this true?”