Read In the Worst Way (Mercy Watts Mysteries Book 5) for Free Online Page B

my foot and put Skanky’s butt in Dad’s face.  
    He cringed and took my cat. “I could’ve done without that. I’m taking Skanky to Mr. Cervantes. I’m sure he can take care of him for a few days and he will grow his fur back.” Under his breath, he said, “He’s had to do it before.”  
    “What was that?” asked Mom.  
    “Nothing. I’ll be right back. Try not to talk about religion, food, or politics while I’m gone.”  
    I ran around him to the pantry. “I’m going, too. I have to pack.”  
    Mom waved her spoon again. “I already packed for you.”  
    “What?” I asked. “You went through my drawers? Ew.”  
    “Why ew? I’m your mother.”  
    “That’s why it’s ew,” I said. “I’m an adult. I have a private life. I would like some privacy.”  
    Mom narrowed her eyes. “How come? What are you trying to hide?”  
    “Nothing, but I could have stuff in my drawers.”  
    “What kind of stuff?”  
    Letters to Chuck. Diaries. Mom’s face on a dartboard.  
    “Just stuff. Private stuff.”  
    Mom banged her spoon on the table. “Do you have drugs in your apartment? I knew it, Tommy. Look at her. I think her hair is falling out.”  
    “It is not. And there are no drugs. Just leave me alone for once.”  
    “I can’t. I’m your mother,” said Mom.  
    “I don’t need your help.”  
    “Clearly you do. Look at your cat.”  
    I pointed at the evil Siamese. “It’s their fault.”  
    Dad grabbed me and marched me out of the kitchen and down the hall to the stairs. “Go upstairs and be quiet.”
    “She’s driving me crazy,” I said.  
    “It’s mutual. You worry her sick. Now she’s going to be crying all night.”  
    “Yeah, right. Mom doesn’t cry. It ruins her makeup.”  
    Dad squeezed my arm until I yelped. “Listen to me. In the last two months, you killed a gang member, got a price on your head, broke up with your boyfriend, and stopped eating. You won’t talk to us or to anyone. You work ninety hours a week and you started jogging. Don’t tell me something’s not wrong.”  
    I teared up and bit my lip.  
    “Now we’re going to work this out, whatever it is. You’re going on this trip your mother arranged and you’re going to like it. You’re not going to try and escape. I’m going to take care of this Costilla thing.”  
    “In four days?” I asked.  
    “Just between you and me, there’s a sting operation going down. The Costillas are going to have bigger things to worry about than you. We just have to snap them up.”  
    “You really think an arrest will fix it.”  
    “No, but a war over who’s in charge while the surviving Costilla brothers are in prison will.”  
    “Just four days?” I asked.  
    “Yes, but first, you will apologize to your mother?”  
    “For what specifically?”  
    “For everything you’ve ever done wrong,” he said with his best-dimpled grin.  
    “That could take a while.”  
    “Tell me about it. You say whatever you have to say. I have to live with that woman. I can’t listen to another lecture on the brain’s need for fat and calories.”  
    “Okay.”  
    Dad gave me a nudge up the stairs and turned away.  
    “Wait,” I said. “How did Mom get the cousins to go on this trip anyway? This is short notice.”  
    He shrugged. “It’s Snot’s bridesmaid trip. They wanted to go.”  
    “Huh?”  
    “Snot’s getting married. You really do need some calories.”  
    “No, no. I remember that, but it’s weird that I’m going,” I said.  
    “It’d be weird if you weren’t there. You’re the maid of honor.”  
    “What? I am not. I’m not even in the wedding.”  
    Dad laughed. “You are now. Congratulations.”

    I did apologize and I ate the bolognese. Well, I moved it around on the plate and Mom fell for it. She was distracted by all my apologizing. I covered it all, including peeing into her flower beds when I was five. Boys peed outside. I thought I’d