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“Not yet. I wanted to talk to you first.”

“And the woman who told you this?”

“She doesn’t work for me anymore.”

“Because of what she said about Storie?”

“She lied about her background and when I confronted her about it, she proceeded to level these accusations at my daughter.”

I sat back. Just saying it had me irritated again. I could feel my chest tightening.

“When I confronted her, suddenly my daughter was the one I needed to worry about.”

The therapist let a moment pass.

“I understand why you’re questioning her credibility. What she told you still concerns me.”

“It concerns me too. That’s why I’m here.”

“Has Storie threatened to hurt an animal in front of you? Or threatened someone in the house?”

“Never.”

“Have you observed anything that supports the accusation?”

I thought of Storie’s behavior the last year or so. I couldn’t put a finger on it but she was colder. But was she cold enough to kill? She just seemed like a girl going through growing pains and missing her mother.

“She’s been angry. Disrespectful. You know what we’ve been dealing with. That’s why I brought her to you.”

“I do. I’m asking whether you’ve seen the behavior this woman described.”

“Nah, I haven’t. Have you?”

“I haven’t seen her with animals.”

“You know what I’m asking.”

She held my gaze.

“I’ve seen a girl who is grieving, who gets defensive when she feels criticized, and who has difficulty talking about things that frighten her. I’ve also seen her express concern for other people. But what I see in this office doesn’t answer every question about what happens outside it.”

I heard the part about concern for other people and held on to that.

“Does she talk about the woman? Skye?”

“I’m not going to repeat private conversations, Mr. Banks.”

“I pay you to help my daughter.”

“Yes. And maintaining her trust is part of helping her.”

She didn’t raise her voice or move around in her chair. I could respect that, even while she was getting on my nerves.

“There is something Storie has given me permission to discuss with you,” she continued. “About her mother.”

I went still.

“What about her?”