But Emma hadn’t been physically left alone that night because I was there.

I didn’t want an investigation built around a claim that wasn’t true.

The danger lay in the absence of a verifiable plan and the circumstances surrounding it.

Ryan knew I might be called away again.

He’d discussed that possibility with Emma.

Yet his written instructions assumed an adult would appear without identifying one.

Marcus kept that question separate from the financial records.

The forms suggested possible identity misuse.