Behind it, the guidance secretary had attached an attendance printout showing that Daniel had signed Grace out of school five weeks ago, on October twelfth, listing as his contact an unlisted work number that went straight to a dead extension.

Dr.

Collins came through the swinging hallway doors holding a printed white sheet.

He stopped beside my chair and adjusted his round glasses with his thumb.

“I have the preliminary scan results back from radiology, Mrs.

Mitchell,” he said in a quiet, direct voice.

He turned the page toward me so I could read the typed heading at the top.

“The ultrasound shows a six-centimeter pelvic mass on her right ovary,” Dr.