“That is my first plea to you. My second plea is anyone who knows anything, who may have seen anything, to please come forward. Come to Detective Jamika Ponder of the Travis County Sheriff’s Office or Detective Carmen Ames of Lakehaven police, they’re here tonight to talk to us.” Iris notices the two detectives are sitting farther down the row. Ames looks like a schoolteacher at an assembly. Ponder is leaning forward, staring out at the audience. “Because of the complexity of this kind of homicide case, TCSO has the resources to be the lead agency on the investigation.”

There is silence.

“If you’re scared,” Mike says, surveying the crowd, “or if you don’t want to publicly accuse someone, then call the anonymous tip line the Lakehaven police have set up.” He clears his throat. “I’m also donating fifty thousand dollars for information leading to an arrest and conviction for Danielle’s killer.”

The silence is replaced by a low rumble. Iris glances around. Does someone here know something?

“Anything,” Mike continues. “Any information that lets us know why this happened. Why Danielle died.”

Why. Why does why matter so much to some people? Why will change nothing. Iris closes her eyes and feels a dull thump of pain in her head, the start of a headache. She hates Mike for asking this question. Who is she becoming? It’s as if this murder has unmoored her, made her wonder about the person she is and the life she’s led. Just as she had started to believe it would all be fine.

“Iris?” she hears Mike ask. She realizes, with a sinking shock, that while lost in thought she’s put her hands over her face. She lowers her hands. It feels like the entire room is looking at her. “Did you have anything to add?” Mike says.

She should just shake her head no. Instead—what are you doing what are you doing what are you doing?—she stands. She turns and faces the crowd. Like she has done at all kinds of parent meetings over the years. She feels the weight of their gaze. She takes in their expressions: some are shocked, some mournful, some curious, some scared.