Now Officer Ruiz was waiting for my answer.

“She became quieter,” I admitted.

“She didn’t want me leaving her alone with Brenda some mornings.”

“Did you ask why?”

“Yes.

But I accepted the answers I got.”

I remembered one rainy Thursday when Hailey had clung to my pants at the door.

Brenda had smiled, gently untangled her fingers, and said she was simply going through a phase.