“If you sign this waiver of non-opposition,” Vance said, “we can ask the duty judge for reduced bail conditions before two o’clock.”

“She locked my toddler daughter in an unplugged freezer for a paid online video,” I said.

“It was an administrative oversight during an instructional presentation,” Vance said, lowering his voice to a murmur.

“If she stays in county custody until trial, nobody wins.”

Mariana glanced down at her wristwatch.

“My daughter’s core body temperature reached a hundred and three degrees,” Mariana said.

“Your mother is sixty-two years old,” Vance said.