“And do you have any idea who might have taken it?” she asked.
It was the crucial moment, the abyss. If I’d said no, I could have played dumb. I could have let the police find him, feigned ignorance, and perhaps spared the family a direct confrontation. But if I’d told the truth, if I’d named names, I’d have declared war. I’d have burned bridges and sprinkled the earth with salt. I thought of Dad’s laughter. I thought of him saying, “You’re single,” as if my lack of a husband made me common property. I thought of Lucas driving my car without a license, endangering the lives of everyone on the road, and who felt entitled to enjoy the fruits of my labor just because he was born male.
“Madam,” asked the operator, “do you have any suspicions?”
