Free Karma's A Bitch (A Pet Psychic Mystery) by Shannon Esposito Page B

to make sure Karma was keeping up. I had to smile at his wide lope, tongue flapping beside his jaw. He really was a sweet boy.
    I parked my bike against the tree under the No Trespassing sign and walked into the camp.
    “Hey there, Snow White.” Pops chuckled. He was playing cards with Minnie and two others I didn’t recognize. Another group hung out in broken lawn chairs, passing around a joint with a tiny glowing tip.
    I waved. “Hey, guys.”
    “Oh, hi, nice lady!” G appeared and ambled toward me clutching a shoebox. “You brought some cookies?”
    “Hi, G. Yes, I brought some cookies.” I pulled the Ziploc bag from my pack and handed it over to G. He cradled the shoebox as if it were breakable and accepted the bag. I noticed his hand shaking.
    “What’s in the box, G?”
    He didn’t answer me, just nodded with a big old toothless grin and walked away. Probably for the best I didn’t know anyway.
    I moved closer to the table. “Is Mac here?”
    “Yeah, he’s in his office.” Pop paused from organizing his cards and motioned to the large blue tarp to my right.
    “Thanks.” I headed that way with Karma at my heels. The tarp did offer some shade but it was still hot as Hades under there. Probably a lot more humid, too. I stepped inside, being careful not to trip on the rug that had begun to rot and mingle with the soil. “Hi, Mac.” Mac sat at a table and glanced up at me from the paper in his hand.
    “Couldn’t stay away, eh?” he snorted. His attention went back to the paper. “What can I do ya for, Snow White?”
    Wow. Didn’t take long for a nickname to stick around here. I glanced at the man who sat across from him. I didn’t recognize him from my last visit. He didn’t seem too interested in what I was there for so I just came out with it.
    “The police said someone from here turned in a suicide note from Mad Dog. That true?”
    Mac hesitated then he put down the paper and folded his hands. “Hey, give me and this lady a minute, Hops. We’ll finish up your resume in a bit.” The guy stood and left without a fuss. “Have a seat.” He motioned to the chair the guy just left.
    “You know there are three sides to every story, right?”
    I took a seat. “I just want the truth.”
    He sighed. “The truth is…you really need to stay on your side of town.”
    I crossed my arms and waited. That wasn’t what I came here to hear.
    “Look. It’s obvious you cared about Mad Dog but it’s also obvious that you don’t have a damn clue what real life is about. Mad Dog probably considered you a friend, too so I’m gonna do him a favor and tell you the only thing I can. Stop asking questions. Go home.”
    I stared at him hard. Real life? What does that even mean? That my life isn’t real just because it’s not as hard as his?
    “I may not know what life is like here in a homeless camp. I may not understand the full breadth of the suffering that goes on here but I do know that it’s not right to ignore a friend when they need you. And whether Mad Dog is alive or not, he needs me. And Karma needs me. And I’m not walking away from either of them until I’ve seen justice done. If someone killed him, he deserves to have that someone pay for it.”
    “Je-sus, girl.” Mac shook his head and his face reddened. “You want to go and get yourself killed then go on. Just don’t involve us, we got enough heat.”
    “So, that’s it? You’re not going to answer my question about the letter?”
    “No, I’m not.” Mac leaned back and crossed his arms. “And it’s gonna get dark soon, you best be on your way.”
    I glanced over at the sun, now just a melted orange puddle on the horizon.
    “Fine.” I stood up and Karma stood with me. “Will you just tell me if y’all found his back pack?”
    He started to say something and then just shook his head, pressing his lips together. “Nope.”
    “Thank you.” Not that his answer helped much. I wasn’t sure now he would tell me if they did.
    As