Maya rolled closer.
“So Julian accidentally restarted an investigation his dad started?”
Officer Daniels gave her a measured look.
“That’s a dramatic way of putting it.”
“Is it inaccurate?”
Daniels considered.
“Not entirely.”
That earned the first real smile from Maya all morning.
By nine, the community center had become the least official-looking investigation room imaginable.
Coffee appeared.
Dr. Mercer contacted the parents of students whose adaptive equipment had come through Mobility Bridge.
Officer Cooper began arranging for the damaged chair to be examined.
And Julian sat beside Maya near the windows, both of them whispering.
I watched them from across the room.
Maya noticed.
“Your mom keeps looking over here.”
Julian sighed.
“She does that.”
“My dad does too.”
“Parents.”
“They’re terrible.”
“Completely.”
Mr. Ortiz, five feet away, said, “We can hear you.”
Maya called back, “That proves our point.”
I laughed despite everything.
Then Rebecca sat beside me.
