The officer glanced toward Ava, sleeping peacefully in her carrier. “We’ll issue an alert tonight. Child Protective Services will take over in the morning.”

I barely slept. Every time I shut my eyes, I pictured Sabrina disappearing into the rain. By sunrise I was standing at the front window, hoping to see her walking back along the path.

The porch stayed empty.

Chapter 3 — Temporary

Just after nine, a white county vehicle pulled into my driveway. Dana from Child Protective Services introduced herself with a warm smile, then spent nearly an hour asking questions.

When we finished, her eyes settled on a framed certificate beside my fireplace.

“You were a licensed foster parent.”