She had never once mentioned that closet in ten years of marriage.

“Did she ever talk about using that method on your children?” the officer asked.

“She always said modern parents were soft,” Mariana said, her voice hardening.

“She said children need strict physical boundaries to learn self-control.”

“Where is Mrs.

Ramos right now?” Officer Henderson asked, turning a page in his notebook.

“We don’t know,” I said.

“Her silver sedan was gone when I pulled into the driveway.”