Later that afternoon I received a message from an unfamiliar address.

It was from someone claiming to be a friend of Brenda’s.

The note accused me of ruining her life and suggested I should persuade the prosecutor to drop the case.

I saved the message, forwarded it to Nora, and said nothing in reply.

Then I went back outside, where Hailey had lined up the sponges to dry in the sun.

“You missed a spot, Daddy,” she announced.