Officer Grady clears his throat and pulls a chair up right next to the bed and retrieves a notepad and pen from his pocket. “I need to ask you some questions about this morning, Violet. You and Cora Landry went to the old train depot together?” Violet nods her head. “I need you to answer out loud, Violet, you understand?”

Again Violet nods and I slide my arm around her shoulders. “Yes,” she says and then, “Yes, we went there.”

“Was it just the two of you?”

“And Jordyn. Jordyn came, too.” I look at Officer Grady in alarm but he coolly jots down what Violet is saying. There was no sign of Jordyn at the train yard. Was she hurt, too? Was she taken?

“Do you know where Jordyn went?” he asks and I’m relieved he at least asked the question. “She wasn’t there when we found you and Cora.”

Violet gnaws at her lower lip. “I don’t know. She was there with us and then she wasn’t.”

“You and Jordyn were spending the night at the Landry house?”

“Yes.”

“How did you get to the train yard?”

“We walked,” Violet says and then peeks sheepishly up at me. She knows she’s supposed to ask me before she ever goes anywhere. I’ve learned the hard way with Max and am trying to set firm rules with Violet. My fingers itch to look at my phone to see if Max has checked in but I don’t want to interrupt now that Violet’s talking.

“The train yard is how far from Cora’s house? A mile and a half or two?” Officer Grady asks. Violet shrugs and he moves on. “What time did you leave?”

“Around midnight,” she says without hesitation.

“Midnight?” I ask, unable to stop myself. “Why in the world would you three be roaming around town in the middle of the night?” I feel Violet go rigid next to me.

Officer Grady reaches over and pats Violet’s knee. “Hold tight, will you, Violet? I’m going to talk to your mom out in the hall for a sec. You’re doing great.” Officer Grady stands and I slide out of my spot next to Violet and follow him into the hallway.

Once out of earshot Officer Grady turns on me. “The agreement was I ask the questions and you listen, right? How am I going to find out what happened if you keep interrupting?” A red flush creeps up his fleshy neck and I realize he’s right. I need to shut up. He’s trying to get all the information he can so he can catch the bastard and I’m stuck on Violet sneaking out in the middle of the night.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I’ll be quiet.”