“Now we wait.” We sit on the park bench. I take myself back to yesterday morning: the path I walked, how I stopped behind this bench, how my fingers trailed over the edges of each stroller so I knew exactly where Jackson’s was. How Jess slid Baxter’s stroller to the right so she could make room for him. How I sat in front of my baby and arrogantly thought the bells would alert me if something was wrong. I was so engrossed in conversation—in feeling normal, in blending in, in making friends—that I didn’t pay attention. What if it happened while we were all just sitting there? What if the swap happened before I fainted, not after? As I calculate possibilities, a few women finally straggle in. Sensing the shift, Jake leans in.

“Let me do the talking, okay?”

I nod and squeeze the stroller handle tighter.

“Excuse me, ladies? I’m Detective Jake Donovan.” Jake’s voice is steady as he approaches the moms. “My friend Rebecca Gray was here yesterday with her baby, Jackson.” I imagine him turning to gesture toward the bench.

“Oh yeah, you fainted! Are you okay?” A woman’s voice I barely recognize—Ramona?—speaks up, and then another woman joins in. I offer up a smile, but it’s fake. This whole thing is a lie—sitting here with another baby in my son’s stroller, depending on my ex-boyfriend to get to the bottom of this when I’m his mother. This is my job, not Jake’s.

“So you were both here yesterday?” Jake continues. “Anyone else?” He cases both benches and gathers the women to talk, take statements, and ask questions. I avoid trailing him like a huntress and instead stay glued to the bench, retracing my steps before and after I fainted. I play the dangerous what if game. What if I hadn’t gone to sleep when I got home? What if I hadn’t let Jess stay with him? I would have known immediately and could have done something about it then. Instead, I slept all day and gave whoever it was hours to escape. I smother a sob with my hand as the baby starts crying. I rock the stroller and shush him. My head pounds. My heart hurts. I dab my tears and adjust my sunglasses.

“Hey, any luck yet?” Jess slides in beside me.

“I don’t know. He’s asking questions.” My voice falls flat.

She sighs. “Look, I know I wasn’t a great friend last night, but I’m going to be here for you, okay?”

I nod, unable to say thanks. Because if she doesn’t believe me, then I don’t really want her help.

“I’m going to go see if Jake needs anything. You okay here?”

I nod again. Suddenly, someone thrusts a flyer into my hand. “Big end-of-summer parade today. You should come!”