It had been sitting unused in a drawer, but I realized it might help me understand what happened during Harper’s rides home.

The following morning, I concealed the recorder inside a compartment of her backpack and switched it on before she left for school.

I told neither Carter nor Spencer because I wanted to hear what happened when they believed nobody was listening.

That afternoon, Spencer arrived carrying Harper once again.

She appeared completely unconscious, and I felt sick as I took her from his arms.

“Spencer, why does she keep coming home like this?”