Her nod was vigorous, but it wasn’t enough, and he asked her to look at him. Sara did so slowly, her eyes darting to Summer and back to Mr. Nava.

“Summer says that her mother’s death wasn’t an accident. Is that true?”

“Summer thinks it’s true,” Sara said quickly. She cast another wayward glance at Summer. “Her mom left her here a lot. She wasn’t around, you know?”

The men in the room nodded; a lot of bobbleheads, Summer thought bitterly. O’Connor didn’t bob her head. She kept looking at Summer while Sara lied.

“So what you’re saying is that Summer is a very confused young lady?”

Sara nodded. Summer looked at her feet. The churning inside of her was becoming unbearable, feelings expanding in her chest like a bubble of gas.

Taured watched, his expression completely content with how things were working out for him.

“The truth is, Summer,” he said, looking at her, “your mother wanted you to stay here with us. She named me as your legal guardian in her last will and testament.” He looked at the officers. “I will, of course, produce Lorraine’s will for you. Lorraine didn’t want Summer being raised near her parents—she expressed to me that she wanted to protect her daughter from them.” He lowered his voice on the last part, letting the weight of insinuation sink in.

“He’s a liar!” Her yell made Sara flinch. “My mother would never leave me alone in a room with this pig, never mind leaving me with him for good.”

The silence that followed lasted only a few thickly awkward seconds, but Summer could see their faces change.

“That’s quite enough, young lady.” The jowly man pushed himself forward in his seat and then hoisted himself to standing position. “You need to show some respect for yourself and everyone else in this room.”

Was this happening? Her mother was dead, murdered at the hands of this madman, and the police were telling her to watch her manners?

“You’re not listening to me,” she tried again. “They locked my mother in a room—both of us—and tortured her. They made it look like she overdosed, but they gave her those drugs against her will.”

“Oh, my,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “You, as well? They locked both of you up and tortured you?”

Summer’s mouth hung open. Taured sat behind his desk, a pained smile on his face.

“With all due respect, sir, the girl has just lost her mother.”

She couldn’t believe he’d defended her. Looking between them in confusion, she finally turned to Sara, her face screwed up, and she started crying before she could get the words out.