She also knew that reputation alone proved nothing against him.

At the station Richard paced the interview room and explained that Violet had been sick, that he had given her a medication for a legitimate reason, and that his daughters had misunderstood.

When asked for the medication name and prescribing details, his first answers were vague.

He then supplied a label photograph on his phone.

Denise wrote down exactly what he said, including the time he said he’d administered the liquid.

“Why did you tell dispatch the girls wandered away after refusing vitamins?” she asked.