“Are you saying she’s alive?”

“We have information that requires urgent recovery and identification.

I won’t give you a promise before the officers confirm her condition.”

I wanted the promise.

I also knew what it felt like to build my world around a statement somebody else had not properly checked.

So I accepted the careful answer.

Ethan did not sit through the financial and medical discussions.

A suitable adult stayed with him while arrangements were made for a child-sensitive interview by someone trained for that work.