I did not promise Lily that police could prevent every possible knock on every possible door.

I promised that we had a plan and adults responsible for carrying it out.

I asked Rachel once about the words Lily heard concerning her address.

“He called the house clean,” I said.

“As though a school form settled something.”

“It didn’t,” she answered.

“Your daughter’s listed address doesn’t authorize a sale, remove her from your care, or excuse taking her somewhere.

At most, it tells us how he was describing the situation to someone else.”