My fingers trembled as I reached into the pocket of Mom’s beige coat. The fabric felt unnaturally heavy.
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Chapter 2 / 10
Chapter 2 - THE ANONYMOUS TIPThat night, at exactly 8:00 PM, I heard the sirens. I peeked through the living room blinds. Two police cars pulled into the apartment complex. My breath hitched. Marilyn’s phone call was playing out exactly as she’d planned.
"Evelyn Harlow?" an officer asked when Mom opened the door. "We’ve received an anonymous report about stolen property from the mall. May we come in?"
Mom looked confused, her hands fluttering to her throat. "Stolen? I—I don’t know what you’re talking about."
I watched from the shadows of the hallway. They searched the apartment. They searched the coat rack. They checked the kitchen. When they reached the bedroom, my heart stopped.
