Heather stood near the window clutching her phone in both hands, her lips pressed into a thin white line.

Three-year-old Ben sat on the floor near her shoes, tugging at his sister’s sleeve while holding a red toy truck against his knee.

Maddie sat quietly on the bottom rung of a metal chair, looking down at her shiny black shoes.

“Seth, tell me the truth right now,” Heather said, her voice dropping to an anxious whisper.

“Did Natalie actually volunteer for this?”

“I’m handling Natalie,” Seth said.