Valerie Came Home From Deployment to Find Her Twelve-Year-Old Daughter in Intensive Care

“Brenda runs a tight house.

Abigail didn’t care for it.

That isn’t a crime.” His voice went up on the last word and carried into the seating area.

I kept mine where it was.

“At eight forty she was crying on Mrs.

Vance’s phone, asking to sleep on that woman’s couch.

At ten twenty-one she was writing that she had something urgent to tell me.

Where were you at eight forty?”