I looked at him, this man asking about a blocked bank card before he asked about his hospitalized child, and I saw him with perfect clarity, for the first time, entirely.

Chapter 8 — The Forged Messages

When the child welfare officers arrived, the trio’s stories immediately scrambled into a mess of pointing fingers.

George claimed Teresa was supposed to be staying at the house.

Teresa claimed Fiona was picking Chloe up.

Fiona insisted George had told her their mother was already there.

Too many excuses.

Too many convenient gaps.