Then she told me something I had not known: while I was in Germany, Eleanor had said that David’s family was considering whether Maya was stable enough to care for the baby.

She had used that threat whenever Maya asked for medical attention or objected to how the money was spent.

“I know she had no authority to take Liam,” Maya said.

“I know that now.

But when you’re alone and you’ve had surgery, and somebody older speaks as though she can decide your future, it gets inside your head.”
I asked whether she wanted help telling that part of the story to the detective.

She said she would discuss it with her counselor first.