Barbara’s anger changed into fear.
“I didn’t know he was going to hurt Katie,” she said quickly.
“I only helped with the paperwork.”
Andrew, seated inside the patrol car, lifted his head.
Reynolds did not react.
“What paperwork?”
Barbara realized too late that she had admitted involvement.
She glanced toward Andrew, perhaps expecting him to save her.
He looked away.
I returned to the hospital with an officer while the search continued.
Katie was awake when I entered her room.
A child advocate sat beside her, and a nurse was helping her sip water through a straw.
“Is he coming here?” Katie asked.
“No.”
Her shoulders relaxed.
I sat down and took her hand.
“You did the right thing by telling me.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I thought you wouldn’t believe me.”
Those words hurt almost as much as seeing her in the hospital bed.
“Why would you think that?”
