“Listen to me.

You are not in any trouble.

None of this is your fault, and you do not have to protect anyone in this room.

I need you to tell me exactly what happened after that appointment five weeks ago.

All of it.

You will not be in trouble for a single word of it.”

Chapter 7 — What He Said in the Car

Irene took a shaky breath, the kind that has to be gathered in pieces, and she told it.