Bolick went on, “Guy’s name is Jack Leeper, a ten-time loser. Distant cousin to May Finnemore, even more distant to April. He grew up around here, drifted away a long time ago, became a career thug, petty thief, drug dealer, and so on. Got busted in California for kidnapping ten years ago, sentenced to life with no parole. Escaped two weeks ago. This afternoon we get a tip that he might be in this area.”

Theo looked at the sinister face of Jack Leeper and felt ill. If this thug had April, then she was in serious trouble.

Bolick continued, “Last night around seven thirty, Leeper here walks into the Korean Quick Shop four blocks away, buys cigarettes and beer, gets his face captured on the surveillance cameras. Not the smartest crook in the world. So, we know he’s definitely in the area.”

“Why would he take April?” Theo blurted, his mouth dry with fear, his knees ready to buckle.

“According to authorities in California, they found some letters from April in his prison cell. She was his pen pal, probably felt sorry for the guy ’cause he’s never supposed to get out of prison. So she strikes up a correspondence. We’ve searched her room upstairs and can’t find anything he may have written to her.”

“She never mentioned this to you?” the detective asked.

“Never,” Theo said. He had learned that with April’s weird family there were many secrets, many things she kept to herself.

The detective put away the photo, and Theo was relieved. He never wanted to see the face again, but he doubted if he could ever forget it.

Sergeant Bolick said, “We suspect that April knew the person who took her. How else can you explain the lack of a forcible entry?”

“Do you think he would hurt her?” Theo asked.

“We have no way of knowing that, Theo. This man’s been in prison most of his life. His behavior is unpredictable.”