He could not promise immediate charges or explain every detail.

“The most important thing for you tonight,” he said, “is that Harper is with you and we’re taking this seriously.” I thanked him and went back to the table, where my tea had gone cold.

My mother watched my face.

“What happened?” she asked quietly.

I told her what I could.

We did not celebrate.

I had expected a great feeling of relief when someone finally stopped Spencer from collecting children after school.

Instead, I thought of the small ones who might have been brought through those clinic doors and of the parents who were about to learn things they had never imagined.