Another time he had taken my phone during dinner, read a conversation with Laura, and insisted I apologize for discussing our marriage with someone outside it.

He didn’t need to shout every day.

The memory of a few frightening evenings did much of the work for him.

When I hesitated, Officer Davis didn’t rush to fill in my words.

She offered me water, then asked whether I felt safe returning to the home we shared.

I opened my mouth to say yes out of habit.

Then I imagined walking into our kitchen alone while Spencer stood in the doorway, demanding to know which officer I had spoken to and exactly what I’d told her.

“No,” I answered.