Gil stopped speaking and her eyes turned to the window. Outdoors the sun was like an uncovered light bulb glaring dismally in a night club the morning after a wild party. Instead of cigarette butts there were tree branches, instead of broken crockery, smashed glass, and instead of shattered furniture, trees and telephone poles scarring the road. Crews from the telephone company had been out all morning.
Not even aware of how long she had been silent, Gil turned back to her visitor. “It was the worst sound I ever heard,” she continued. “I’ll never forget it.” Her eyes turned bloodshot and ran over. Getting up, she left the room and the detective heard her blowing her nose and then she returned with a box of tissues.
“You never heard so much fear in anyone’s voice. The worst part of it was
