“The swelling on her forehead came from a heavy blow,” Dr.

Hayes said.

“We need to know how that happened.”

The public hallway outside the pediatric ward was quiet and smelled of lemon disinfectant and floor wax.

I walked to the end of the corridor by the bank of pay phones and took my cell phone out of my bag.

I called my father’s cell and waited through four long rings before he picked up.

“Rachel,” Harold said, his voice coming through the speaker in a low, slow rumble.