It was a small, living thing, and for once I wanted to tend something that wasn’t evidence.

PART 19

By spring, the criminal inquiry had reached a difficult point.

Investigators had collected enough documentation to establish serious irregularities in the private placement and the authenticity of the consent form.

But Robert was gone, several people who worked at the hospital were dead or unreachable, and the facilitator disputed any deliberate wrongdoing through her attorney.

Detective Grant met with both families.

She explained that the case remained under review and that the evidence might support administrative action or litigation even if it never supported a criminal conviction beyond a reasonable doubt.