had the old man in some way been responsible for the murder of my mother and older sister ? and if they were right about him , maybe they were right about me . the detectives put their guns down and pull out handcuffs . torn-up leaves mixed with jagged pieces of broken glass , sparkling across my sneakers and the floorboards . the bad guy had really left them to die , and they might have to go ahead and die , since this was not a movie . you gots to stay nice and pink like you 're supposed to . 