Page 157 of Pride High 3: Yellow

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Omar was skating down the sidewalk on his way to work when a car screeched to a halt at the intersection, cutting him off just as he was about to cross. He had to hop off his board and come to a running stop to avoid colliding with a Trans Am with mismatched panels. He recognized who it belonged to just before Diego got out and marched around the hood with a vengeance. Omar was already wincing in anticipation of whatever pain was about to be unleashed when Diego opened the passenger-side door.

“Come with me if you want to live,” he said.

The tension drained from Omar’s body. “I love that movie!”

Diego made a face. “What movie?”

“Hi!” Ricky said, waving as he got out.

“You’ve got your camcorder?” Diego asked.

“Yeah,” Omar said, slinging the shoulder strap around so they could see. “How come?”

“We need your help,” Ricky explained.

“Oh. I’ve gotta get to work.”

“It won’t take long,” Diego said, tilting the passenger-side seat forward to allow access to the back. “Get in.”

Omar shook his head. “I’ll be late!”

“It won’t take long,” Ricky promised.

“And you owe me,” Diego added. “For helping your girlfriend’s dad skip out on his hospital bill.”

He couldn’t argue with that. But he tried anyway. “How long would it take?”

Diego glowered and started walking toward him, like he was done asking.

“Okay, okay!” Omar said, grabbing his skateboard and getting into the car. “I feel like I’m being kidnapped!” he complained.

“It’s way cooler than that,” Ricky said, climbing in on his knees and gripping the seatback while facing him. “You’re going to help solve a crime! And clear an innocent man’s name.”

“Really? That does sound cool!”

“Can you keep your mouth shut?” Diego asked after he got back in. “Just until the end of the week. I’m not expecting miracles.”

“Yeah,” Omar said with a shrug. “I guess so.”

“You better.” Brown eyes glared at him in the rearview mirror. “I keptmymouth shut.”

Another reference to Silvia, he assumed. And yeah, fair enough. Diego hadn’t told anyone about that little escapade, as far as he knew, which is exactly how she’d want it.

“It’s a good thing,” Ricky said before turning around to face the front.

They didn’t have far to drive. Just a little deeper into a nearby neighborhood where they parked. Omar was confused until they got out and he saw a house with two charred trees in the front yard. One had gotten burnt more than the other. Flames must have licked the house because the white exterior looked like a marshmallow that had been held over a campfire too long. Toilet paper was stuck everywhere, as if it had gotten soaked with water before drying again.

“This is Graham’s house,” Omar said in shock. “It’s gotta be!”

“Another mystery solved,” Diego grumbled. “That’s all we needed from you.”

He perked up. “Really?”

“No! Just get your damn camcorder ready.”

“Please,” Ricky added with a smile.