“Thank you,” I tell Genevieve and hang up. It’s dawning on me that if Violet does get arrested I’m most likely going to have to get a public defender.

I look up to find Officer Grady coming toward us. He looks as exhausted as I feel. I wonder if he’s gotten any sleep the last two days. Good, I think. He’s the one who made Violet run. He’s the one who got Violet committed to the hospital. He should be just as tired as we are.

“Morning, Beth,” Officer Grady says. “How’s Violet doing?” he asks.

“I don’t know. Visitors’ hours aren’t until noon. Did you get your warrant and come to arrest her?”

“Listen, Beth, I need to talk to you for a few minutes. Let’s go sit,” Officer Grady says, leading the way to the family waiting room.

I’m about to tell him that there are already people in there but the sight of a cop standing in the doorway gets the couple moving and they gather their things and leave. “I’m holding off on getting that warrant but I may not be able to wait too much longer.” I drop onto the sofa and Officer Grady sits across from me and leans forward, elbows on his knees. “Listen, Beth,” Officer Grady says, “I’m not Violet’s lawyer…”

“Do I need to get her a lawyer?” I ask, panic squeezing my lungs.

“If it comes to that the court will appoint one for Violet.”

“But I don’t know if I can afford one.” My face grows hot. It’s mortifying to have to admit that I can’t provide for my daughter.

“The court automatically appoints a lawyer to Violet. It’s standard for juveniles. It will all be explained to you if she’s taken into police custody.” Officer Grady shifts in his seat. “Listen, that’s not why I’m here to talk to you. I’ve got kids, too. A girl in high school and a boy in eighth grade at the same school as Violet.”

I see the sympathy on his face and I know he’s thinking of his own children and the possibility of them being caught up in a similar predicament. The pressure on my chest eases a bit. Maybe Officer Grady is in our corner, maybe he believes that Violet is innocent.

“I want to show you something.” He stands, pulls out his phone and sits next to me on the sofa. He scratches his eyebrow and takes a breath. “If I were in your boat, I’d want all the information.”

That familiar feeling of dread begins to overwhelm me again and I know that whatever Officer Grady is going to show me isn’t going to be good news for Violet.