into space, then at me. âIf the prowler knew we have his photo that would make a difference. Weâll have to let him know before he does any more damage.â
I was annoyed with her. âI donât know how youâre going to tell him that, but I do know you should be talking with the police. This is vandalism at the very least, and it has the potential of being a lot more.â
âNo,â she said vehemently. âNo police. I donât want to take a chance on having my brother arrested. I donât want to hear anymore about the police!â
âI made a mistake taking this job,â I said, getting up. âI never should have agreed to leave the police out of it, but I thought it would be just a simple matter. But it isnât, and now if something happens to your brother the police will be involved whether you like it or not and you and I will both be at fault for not talking with them earlier!â
She spoke in short, staccato sentences. âPlease. Sit down. Donât leave. Let me think. I need help. I need someone I can trust. I trust you.â
I felt my teeth clenching, but then I looked at her desperate face and the tension eased. I sat down. âYou have to take this to the police,â I said. âThey donât have any reason to look back thirty years, so they may never find out about his past. Besides, even if they do, itâll be better than having him hurt or killed.â
âI wonât tell them if I donât have to, but I will tell them if I do. Will that make you happy?â
âYou should tell them right away. Itâs the best advice I can give you.â
âNo,â she said, frowning into the air. âWe can wait at least a day. Those prowlers will have to report back to their employer, wonât they? And they probably didnât do so last night, so that means they canât do it before today. And then theyâll have to agree on what to do next, and that means they wonât do anything before tomorrow at the earliest, so we have at least today to work before we have to tell the police.â She brought her eyes down to mine. âI think that if the man you photographed knows about the photos, heâll want out of this business. I think that if he can be identified he may want to spill the beans rather than take the full responsibility for what heâs done. Does that sound right to you?â
âFall guys rat out their friends pretty often, but how are you going to let him know heâs on film?â
Her eyes grew bright. âIâm not going to let him know. Iâm going to let his boss know. If his boss knows weâve got his picture, he wonât want him hanging around where he can be found and might talk. I think heâd rather send him away and drop this whole business. What do you think?â
âIt could work like that. But how are you going to find his boss?â
âIf Iâm right, thereâs a chance the boss is my cousin or one of Rolandâs abutters. You can start with them.â
âI thought my job was over.â
âYou took the pictures. Thatâs about all youâll have to say.â She looked at her watch. âYou can see all three of them today. You have plenty of time. I think you should start with my cousin Sally. Sheâs right here in town. Will you do it?â
I thought she was right about having one more day before the cops had to be called in.
âIt might be good to have the photos developed first, so we know what we have,â I said.
âActually, it may not make any difference,â said Carole. âWhatâs important is that they believe we have the photos.â
She was probably right, especially since the prowler might be unidentifiable. âIf we have a face to show them, weâll have a stronger argument,â I said, feeling stubborn.
âYou can drop the film off downtown right now,â she said.