A few minutes later, out in the hallway just beyond the trauma bay, Arthur tried to reassemble his version of events for the officer, while I stood in the doorway where I could see both him and my son at once.

“Mason said Lucas stole his watch,” Arthur said, stiff and defensive.

“We found it buried at the bottom of the boy’s backpack.

What was I supposed to think?”

“Did you give him a chance to explain?” Officer Torres asked, her pen poised over her notepad.

“Of course I did,” Arthur snapped.

“He immediately started making excuses.

Blaming his cousin.