I wasn’t braced against the flood of feeling, the deep well of sorrow, that I tapped into. I tried to choke it down, but my throat was full of the wail I couldn’t utter.

Finally, Grace’s frantic nursing stopped. I tickled her cheek, but instead of resuming, she pulled off and gave me a loopy, milk-drunk smile. Cuddling her against my shoulder, I patted her back until she gave a little burp. I tucked Grace back into her seat, feeling a pang of guilt as I maneuvered the buckle over her swollen diaper. Maybe the police station had a spare one somewhere.

When I stepped out into the hallway, I wasn’t alone. Coming directly toward me from the lobby was Brady, his hands cuffed in back, his head raised defiantly. Two officers were following behind him and another was leading the way down the hall, but all I could see was the familiar face. His T-shirt was too dark for me to make out any stains, and his jeans were black as well. I fell back a step into the doorway of the room, moving Grace’s seat so she was behind me.

And he noticed. Of course he did. This time his gaze held mine and his wink was slow, knowing. Then he bared his teeth in a smile.

CHAPTER

15

THROUGH THE FRONT windows of the station, I could see the sun had risen and cars were taking people to work or to school or to the shops, but Grace and I were stuck in limbo without Michael. At least he wasn’t alone now. Nothing short of my first sight of Grace had ever been as welcome as Alondra, walking through the door in her pencil skirt and matching blazer. She looked like a professional badass, and her brisk nod of greeting had warmed me more than the broadest smile. When she disappeared through the doors into the bowels of the station, I knew someone was finally on our side.

After a long time, such a long time, while other people and officers, all strangers to me, passed through the lobby, Alondra came back. Her hair was just as sleek, her pencil skirt uncreased, but there was tension in the corners of her mouth and eyes. And Michael wasn’t with her.

I stood, accidentally brushing the handle of Grace’s little seat, and I heard my baby stir. “Where’s Michael?”

Alondra drew me back down so that we were sitting beside each other. She kept her hand above my elbow, a tight grip. A few seats away, an elderly man watched us with unabashed interest.

Alondra lowered her voice. “They haven’t charged him with anything, but they’re going to detain him for a while. It could be all day. And they want to question you.”