Then closed his eyes.
When he looked at me, his expression was one of disbelief.
“They found them.”
I stood.
“All five?”
He nodded.
“All five women.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“Are they okay?”
“They're alive. Some need medical attention, but they're being taken to safety.”
I covered my mouth.
For a moment, I remembered Mrs. Wilson's trembling fingers beneath the basement door.
One frightened woman had led us to five more.
Detective Harris continued.
“The facility's records show that all five were admitted under questionable guardianship arrangements.”
I shook my head.
“So Alex wasn't working alone.”
“No.”
“Victor? Daniel? Richard?”
“We're still determining everyone's involvement.”
He hesitated.
“But we found something else.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“A room containing files on other elderly people. There were dozens.”
My stomach dropped.
“Dozens?”
“Yes.”
Alex's backpack contained seven photographs.
But the operation appeared much larger.
And it had been continuing for years.
