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“Indeed they have,” he said

I got up “Oh, one ” I felt like Columbo “Do you know if Tina’s here today?”

“I don’t, but you could check with her home room teacher, Alice Fortune Room 180”

“Thanks again”

He nodded and smiled I made a mental note to keep Frank Powell in ht conveniently forget

CHAPTER SEVEN

I caught Alice Fortune, a short, stout woman with caramel skin and close-cropped black hair, in the h the smallin the door She read, while the kids bent over their desks in classic test-taking posture When I tapped on the glass, she strode toward the door, her colorful dashiki-style dress swaying over ample hips “Keep your eyes on your papers,” she ordered before stepping into the hall

“I’ at my pass “If you have a problem to discuss—”

“I’m very sorry to interrupt I have one quick question for you” I introducedthere “Is Tina Jackson in school today?”

As I explained ed from irritation to deep concern She paused and took a breath “Tina hasn’t been in school all week I’m worried about that child,” she said “She’s too smart to be involved in this kind of nonsense

“I’m worried about her, too Her mother was recently murdered”

Her hand flew to her chest She gulped air, her eyes wide “Lord, no” She shook her head and murmured, “That’s horrible Truly horrible Mind you, I know the woic Maybe that’s why she hasn’t been in school I’m surprised no one told me”

“Thing is, her mother’s body was discovered only yesterday, but you say Tina’s been out all week? So she was skipping school before her mother died And I take it you’ve met Shanae Jackson?”

“She ca Never saw her at another Tina said she had to work nights”

“What did she do to rub you the wrong way?”