Not enough to establish who had touched Maya’s wheelchair.
But enough that the charity’s current leadership agreed to cooperate.
Victor Lane, its former director, had left two years earlier.
Aaron Pike had left around the same time.
Rebecca explained that their departures had occurred only weeks apart.
Officer Daniels asked the obvious question.
“Do you think they were working together?”
“I think Aaron knew where equipment moved,” Rebecca said. “Victor controlled purchasing.”
“But thinking isn’t evidence.”
“No.”
For the first time, Julian seemed frustrated with the slow nature of adult certainty.
“So what happens?”
Daniels looked at him.
“We verify.”
“And if everything takes months?”
“Then it takes months.”
“But Maya could’ve gotten hurt yesterday.”
Maya said softly, “I didn’t.”
Julian turned.
“You could have.”
She held his gaze.
“Yeah.”
Neither of them spoke for a moment.
Then Maya rolled closer.
“You know what I actually need from you?”
