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 stood shaking in her school uniform, cheek red from the slap, eyes swollen from months of crying alone in the house where she should have been safest.

“How?” he asked gently. “Tell me everything.”

Veronica snapped, “Absolutely not. She needs help, not an audience.”