***
By evening, the police had confirmed that the intruder wasn't Alex.
His name was apparently Daniel Price, although investigators suspected the identification he'd used was false.
Security footage from a neighboring house showed him leaving through the side gate moments before officers arrived.
He had escaped in a gray sedan.
Detective Harris returned to my mother's kitchen with a folder.
“Emily, we need to discuss the photographs found in Alex's backpack.”
My mother went still.
“What photographs?” she asked.
I looked at her.
“Mom, the police found pictures of seven elderly women. Mrs. Wilson was number six.”
I swallowed.
“You were number seven.”
She lowered her eyes.
For several seconds, the only sound was the refrigerator humming.
Then she whispered something I hadn't expected.
“Are the first five women alive?”
Detective Harris leaned forward.
“Why would you ask that?”
My mother seemed to realize she'd said too much.
“I just assumed they might be in danger.”
