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

Thomas arrived with Denise Patel, Detective Grant’s case number, printed screenshots, Lucia’s counselor records, and Mrs. Estelle’s written statement that she had heard repeated screaming from the house while Thomas was away. Veronica had already called the school pretending to be the concerned stepmother of an unstable teenager.

But this time, she did not control the room.

The principal, Mr. Alden, sat at the head of a conference table looking grave. The school counselor was there. Madison Clark’s parents arrived, polished and annoyed. Madison herself sat between them, arms crossed, expression bored until she saw the stack of printed messages.

Tyler and Olivia’s parents joined by video.