PART 2

My mother’s smile split apart the moment two police officers walked into the room. Thomas had gone outside for a cigarette, sure the whole hospital problem was already handled. He’d always believed fear was a leash, and he’d spent years pulling mine tighter.

“Is any of this really necessary?” Mom snapped. “My daughter is emotional. She invents things when she wants attention.”

Dr. Reed planted himself between us. “She has injuries at several different stages of healing.”