Summary

Tess got home and locked the door behind her, then set the alarm. She fed Fritzy and then checked all the windows and doors. She had purchased a gun years ago when a string of robberies across the town had encouraged the residents to take precautions. Plus, she had wanted to research handguns for one of her books. She took it out of its dusty box and loaded it, then felt better. It was only eleven at night. She decided that she definitely did not want to go to the hospital or the police because she did not want to be publicly humiliated, though she felt confused over what to do about the other women in the pipe.

The next morning, she decided that she would place an anonymous tip to the police. She called her neighbor and told her that she...