HIS NEIGHBOR WOULDN’T STOP REPORTING THE SOUND OF A GIRL CRYING INSIDE HIS HOUSE—THEN HE HID BENEATH HIS DAUGHTER’S BED AND HEARD HER PLEAD FOR SOMEONE TO SPARE HER

Lucia’s sneakers swung just inches from his face. Her white socks were stained near the heels and ankles, like she’d spent hours wandering somewhere no child should have had to go alone. Again and again, she whispered the same shattered sentence.