PART 9

The next hour unfolded in careful, ordinary sentences.

Detective Alvarez identified herself.

Another officer explained why they needed to speak to Mark, and a child-protection professional introduced herself to Emma at a distance that didn’t crowd her.

I won’t pretend I understood every procedure.

I remember that everyone tried to keep their voices low and that Emma looked at me repeatedly, searching for some clue about whether she was in trouble.

I crouched beside her.