Her First Mistake by Carey Baldwin (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

to Mia. “Too many people around on the boardwalk for good conversation.” Keisha slipped her sandals off and placed them on the wall.

Mia jerked her tennis shoes off without untying them and set them, with her ankle socks crammed inside, next to Keisha’s pretty sandals.

She hopped on alternating feet across the scalding sand to reach Keisha, and they raced the rest of the way to the shoreline where the tide provided a cool path for walking. As they paced the beach, waves rushed out and back teasing their ankles. Overhead, gulls glided, occasionally dive-bombing for food. Surfers caught, and failed to catch, a ride, their brightly colored boards rising and falling on white-capped turquoise swells. To onlookers they must seem a pair of friends enjoying a stroll—but onlookers couldn’t feel the pounding of Mia’s heart, or the apprehension charging the air between them.

“Blackmail at the beach,” Mia finally broke the silence. “Such a beautiful backdrop for extortion.”

“Let’s get this straight, I’m not a blackmailer.”

“Not yet,” Mia said. “And let’s hope it stays that way, but no matter what, I’m not buying your silence.”

“I’m asking you to pay for my transmission, not my silence.”

“But if I don’t, you’ll tell anyone who’ll listen that I took Celeste’s keys. I don’t know what you call that, but I call it blackmail—or extortion, I’m not sure of the difference.”

“I need the money.”

They were yards away from the nearest person, and the crashing waves drowned out their voices so they could barely hear one another even though they stood less than a foot apart.

Mia met Keisha’s eyes. “I’m sorry about your expenses. But I can’t help you. I don’t want you to tell anyone I took Celeste’s keys. It would hurt me, and maybe hurt Celeste, too, if the police waste time on something that has nothing to do with her disappearance. I know it was a rotten thing to do. And I really, really regret it. Which is another thing I wanted to talk to you about. When I picked up those keys, I didn’t think it through. I acted impulsively, without considering the consequences. Now, I’d do anything to have the chance to undo it. It’s too late for me, but you—you still have the opportunity to stop and think. Don’t do something you’re sure to regret later.”

Keisha scoffed. “Nice speech. But why would I regret making a small profit off of inside information? You deserve to pay for what you did to Celeste.”

“Believe me, I am paying a price. And I’m trying to stop you from having to do the same. If you really thought I had anything to do with Celeste’s disappearance, I bet you’d have gone to the police right away. If you do this, it’s going to weigh on your conscience.” She shrugged. “Besides, the police will wonder why you waited to tell them.”

“I’ll come up with some excuse.”

Enough was enough. Mia was going to make her stand right here and now. “I won’t let you blackmail me. It’s your word against mine. No one will ever find those keys, and the footage is gone—because you erased it. You destroyed evidence. You’re the one who committed a crime.”

“I didn’t know it was evidence, so it can’t be a crime. And who’s to say I didn’t make a backup?”

Thirty-Four

A hand clasped Mia’s shoulder, making her jump.

Isaiah.

How much had he overheard?

“You scared me.” Mia tried to make her voice seem casual, teasing, but while she might fool Isaiah, she couldn’t fool herself. If Keisha did have a backup tape, there really was something to be scared of.

Isaiah stuck his hand out to Keisha whose arms stayed at her side while she inclined her head, surveying him. “You came out of nowhere.”

“I’m Isaiah, nice to meet you.”

“This is Keisha,” Mia offered. “I thought I was going to call you when I was done.”

“That’s what we said, but since it turned into such a beautiful day I thought I’d tool around and enjoy the beach.” He checked his watch. “I can get lost until you’re done with your friend, though. When do you think that’ll be?”

“Right this minute,” Keisha said. “Mia and I are finished. Aren’t we?”

“I guess.” Mia’s only hope now was that Keisha had been bluffing about a backup tape. Even if she came up with the cash, there was no guarantee Keisha wouldn’t go to the police, and if they learned Mia had agreed to a payoff she’d look even more guilty. From here on out, she needed to be extra careful. Keisha might even be wearing a wire. “We’ll talk more later?”

“Whatever.” With her back turned, Keisha waved a hand in the air and jogged off down the beach.

“She didn’t seem too happy to meet me. I’m sorry I didn’t wait for your call. I didn’t mean to interrupt something important.”

“You didn’t. She’s just socially awkward.”

“Birds of a feather, then.” His grin softened the blow of his words. “Joking. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a Mia fan. I appreciate a woman who doesn’t pretend to be perfect.”

Her face flushed, and the sun felt pleasant and warm on her skin. “A little backhanded, but thanks.”

“I’m glad you’re out with a girlfriend. I was beginning to think…”

“That I didn’t have any?”

“Maybe I’m the socially awkward one. I’m trying to win you over, but I don’t feel like I’m making much headway. I don’t see why we shouldn’t be friends—at the very least. I guess showing up early was my way of taking advantage of that fresh start we talked about.”

His deep voice made her shiver. She wasn’t used to male attention, and apparently she was rather susceptible. Angelica had warned her to be careful around him, but he had a way of looking at her that made her feel important—and that didn’t happen often with either gender. “Thanks for coming. I know your dad volunteered you to help me move my mother’s chest—”

“He said that? I volunteered myself. I’m happy to move whatever you want. Mom is already more