“Mrs.

Mercer, the district attorney is prepared to accept an immediate referral for kidnapping charges against Rebecca Cole,” the judge said.

“Do you want the Commonwealth to proceed?”

I turned my head toward the second row of the gallery behind us.

Lily sat between the caseworker and a wooden partition, her knees pressed together and her boots not quite touching the floor.

“My birth certificate had the wrong name on it,” Lily said, her voice carrying clearly through the silent courtroom.