I carried her upstairs and put her in bed. When I tried to step away, her fingers tightened around my sleeve. I stayed until sleep loosened her grip. Then I went downstairs.

Chapter 5 — The Timeline on Paper

The kitchen was silent except for the refrigerator motor. Darkness had settled outside, leaving my reflection floating in the window over the sink. I placed the mall report on the table.

It listed when Lily was found, where staff discovered her, each announcement, and the time my mother finally entered the security office. I read the timeline twice.

The facts looked worse on paper, because paper did not allow anyone to interrupt with excuses.

Lily had been found at 1:18 p.m. The first announcement was made at 1:23. My mother completed one purchase at 1:47. Another at 2:16. A third at 2:41. She entered the security office after 3:00.

The receipts in her shopping bags matched those times. She had kept shopping while announcements repeated through the mall.