I did not even hear the end of it.

I was looking at Lily, who had already forgotten the noise, who would never remember any of this, who would grow up in an auto shop that smelled of motor oil and be raised by two people who loved her — and I thought, there.

That is done.

You are safe now.

I made sure of it. They took Trent out into the corridor, and his shouting echoed down the hall past the nurses and the visitors, growing fainter.

And then two more officers stepped to Gerald, who did not fight, who did not summon the mayor or the firm or any of the men who had always answered his call.