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

“If one more picture, one more rumor, one more message about my daughter appears anywhere,” he said, “I will spend every dollar I have and every hour I have left making sure the police, the school, your clinic, every parent, and every judge in Dallas sees what you did.”

Veronica’s mouth opened.

“Try me,” Thomas said.

She did not.