“And we believe her story?”
“One thousand percent believable.”
“Why didn’t she leave or report it?”
“She didn’t want to end up in foster care. She said, essentially, that the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know.”
“Dear God. The poor girl. And she’s just eighteen today?”
“That’s right.”
“I can’t even imagine.”
“She broke my heart when she said she’d like to graduate with her class in June, if that’s possible. If not, she’ll understand.”
“Please tell me we’re going to make that happen.”
“We sure as hell will. I’ll go with her myself if that’s what it takes.”
“I’ll go, too. We’ll be her aunties.”
Sam smiled. “Thank you for being you, for always caring the way you do when it would be so much easier not to.”
“Right back at you, friend.”
Sam eyed an upholstered chair that sat against the wall. “Could I borrow your chair? I just need… a minute.”
“Take as many minutes as you need. Can I get you something to drink or eat?”
“You have any water?”
“I do.”
Lindsey brought her a cold bottle of water and a printout. “Here’s the autopsy report in case you need to explain what you’re doing while you give yourself a second to catch your breath.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
After a few minutes of silence, Sam said, “I was going to request time off to take a trip with Nick.”
“You should do that.”
“Amara researched me. She asked for me and only me when she was ready to tell her story. I don’t feel right leaving her.”
“You were there for the most important part today, and you’ll be there for all the important things still to come. There’s nothing wrong with leaving her in the hands of your capable team once you get her settled somewhere.”
“I want to take her home with me.”
“Which you can’t do.”
“I do know that, but I wish it was possible.”
“I could,” Lindsey said.
“What?”
“I could take her home with me. I have a spare bedroom and can support her efforts to finish high school and figure out what’s next.”
