“I spent thirty long years waiting around while county sheriffs, insurance adjusters, and corporate lawyers told me they were handling things,” Martha said, her voice dripping with resolve.

“Every time I asked hard questions, someone told me to go home and wait.

I went home, and I waited for decades while believing official reports written by men who could not look me in the eye.”

She leaned in closer to the detective.

“I will not sit quietly in some office while another member of my family is taken away.”

Detective Miller did not make any false promises, but he gave her a firm nod of respect.