What am I going to do about work? I’ve already missed two days and I haven’t worked there long enough to get any vacation time. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid.

I watch Max sleep, his hands tucked beneath his chin, which sprouted a shadow of a beard overnight. I blinked and he grew up on me. I blinked and my daughter went from a nice, quiet twelve-year-old girl to being in a locked ward of the hospital, accused of being crazy, of trying to kill her best friend.

My stomach growls loudly and I can’t believe my body is betraying me at a time like this. I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning and the thought of food makes me want to be sick but I know I have to at least attempt to take care of myself for the sake of Violet and Max.

I stand and stretch, my muscles aching from sitting for so long, and I go over to where Max is sleeping and give him a gentle shake. “Max,” I whisper and his eyes open. “I’m going to find something to eat. You stay here and I’ll bring you something.” He nods and his eyes close again.

I take the elevator down to the main floor and follow the signs to the cafeteria. The smell of scrambled eggs and bacon fills my nose and my stomach rumbles again. The cafeteria is nearly deserted and I grab a few bagels and donuts and two bottles of orange juice and carry them to the cash register. As I pull my cash from my pocket I see Cora’s dad at a table, sitting by himself, a cup of coffee in front of him.

I think about what Violet told me about Jordyn pushing Cora down at the train yard. I wonder if the police have told him anything more about the investigation.

“Ma’am? Ma’am?” The cashier looks at me with eyebrows raised. “That’ll be eight dollars and forty-two cents.”

“Sorry,” I say and hand him the money and don’t wait for the change. I decide to take the cowardly way out and, with head down, try to leave the cafeteria without Jim Landry seeing me. No such luck.

“Hey,” Jim calls. I stop and turn to face him. He’s not a tall man, but burly and strong, and from the way he’s glaring at me it’s obvious the police have told him their theory. The cashier’s eyes flick back and forth between us.

“I’m sorry about what happened to Cora, but they’re wrong.” I keep my voice low and steady. “Violet didn’t do this.”