My father stumbled back and knocked over a tall floral arrangement, as if crushed lilies could shield him.

“This is an outrage!” he bellowed, his country-club voice cracking high.

“I am a pillar of this community!”

The lead investigator did not blink.

She stopped at the head of the aisle and held up a sealed evidence bag, and the whole room drew a breath at once.

Inside the clear plastic were tangled clusters of dull silver metal.