They collected physical evidence, examined what could be recovered about movements during the night, and compared it with the statements already taken.

A club recovered from the property was examined.

Its presence by itself did not establish who had used it.

The value came from the physical examination and the way other evidence fit, or failed to fit, the competing accounts.

The detective used plain language when he spoke to Hannah.

“This supports part of the timeline,” he told her.

He did not say, “We have proved everything.”

One uncertainty was especially painful for her.