“Quiet in the gallery, young lady,” the bailiff said, but his voice was gentle.

Lily didn’t look away from me, her small fingers winding the red ribbon so tight that the tip of her finger went pale white.

“Mrs.

Mercer?” Judge Vance repeated.

“The court needs your position on the referral.”

“No,” I said.

Sarah gasped beside me, her knuckles rapping once against the wooden bench.

“You’re declining to cooperate with a criminal indictment?” Judge Vance asked.