“Teresa put the brass padlock on the chest freezer in the garage,” I said.

“Noah had to pedal all the way to the pharmacy job site to find me.”

Mariana dropped to her knees on the hallway floor, her trembling fingers touching the edge of Noah’s bloody pant leg.

“A padlock?” Mariana said, her mouth barely moving.

“I had to use a heavy steel pry bar to snap the bracket,” I said.

“Why would she lock a child inside a freezer?” Mariana asked, staring straight into my eyes.

“I don’t know,” I said.