He refused to reassure me with easy certainty.

“At this stage, I have information suggesting there were irregularities in the way her history was recorded.

I do not have a court finding.

What matters is making sure she’s safe while the adults work through the facts.” His candor frightened me more than a dramatic warning would have.

I arranged to meet him the next morning.

After the call, I had our driver take Elena and Chloe to my apartment in the city, where we often stayed during the school year.

I rode with them.