Rebecca Miller contacted Sarah through the prosecutor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
Not directly.<\/p>\n
Not by text.<\/p>\n
Not through family.<\/p>\n
She asked whether Sarah would be willing to speak with her in a controlled setting.<\/p>\n
Sarah\u2019s first response was no.<\/p>\n
She said it before the prosecutor finished explaining.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s completely fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah paced her kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRebecca says she has information about David.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe could have given that to police.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why does she need me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe says she wants to tell you something personally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah stopped near the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs David asking her to?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to her, no.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you believe that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve reviewed recent communications. Rebecca has refused several requests from David.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah remembered the jail call.<\/p>\n
Rebecca had told him Chloe called because she was scared.<\/p>\n
That had mattered.<\/p>\n
Still, trust was different.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to think.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTake your time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah hated that phrase too.<\/p>\n
Every important decision seemed to come wrapped in permission.<\/p>\n
She discussed it with Emily.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want from the meeting?\u201d Emily asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe answers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah stared at her coffee.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout whether they knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHis family?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emily waited.<\/p>\n
Sarah continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople always said David had a temper. Rebecca joked about it. His mother said he was difficult when he drank.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think they knew he was hurting you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they knew enough to wonder.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould hearing that help?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCould it hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah laughed without humor.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re very useful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI try.\u201d<\/p>\n
After two days, Sarah agreed.<\/p>\n
The meeting took place in a small conference room at the prosecutor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
Jessica attended at Sarah\u2019s request.<\/p>\n
Rebecca arrived first.<\/p>\n
Sarah had not seen her since Christmas nearly a year earlier.<\/p>\n
She looked older.<\/p>\n
Not physically older exactly.<\/p>\n
More tired.<\/p>\n
When Sarah entered, Rebecca stood.<\/p>\n
Neither woman hugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHi.\u201d<\/p>\n
They sat opposite each other.<\/p>\n
Jessica remained near the wall.<\/p>\n
A victim advocate sat by the door.<\/p>\n
Rebecca clasped her hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know how to start.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cStart with why you wanted this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I should have done something years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah felt her shoulders tighten.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s eyes filled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew he scared you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not what I asked.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know how bad it was.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m tired of that sentence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone knew something, but nobody knew enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNeighbors heard things. Your mother saw bruises. You heard him talk to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd everyone decided they didn\u2019t know enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The admission took some of Sarah\u2019s anger away, which irritated her.<\/p>\n
She wanted resistance.<\/p>\n
Rebecca continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was something before you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore you married him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room grew quiet.<\/p>\n
Rebecca stared at her hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid dated someone named Melanie.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah remembered the name faintly.<\/p>\n
A college girlfriend.<\/p>\n
David had called her unstable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were together about two years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne night she called me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s voice became unsteady.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was crying. She said David shoved her during an argument.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah stopped moving.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI picked her up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe stayed at my apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor how long?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened the next day?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca closed her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid came over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah already knew.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe apologized.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she went back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened after?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey broke up a few months later.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he hurt her again?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah\u2019s voice sharpened.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never asked?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI did once.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said it was complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah leaned back.<\/p>\n
The phrase felt inherited.<\/p>\n
Complicated.<\/p>\n
A soft word people used when the sharper one frightened them.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause by the time you started dating him, I had convinced myself it was one bad night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah laughed once.<\/p>\n
Bitterly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds familiar.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid David tell you Melanie was crazy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told me too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked toward Jessica.<\/p>\n
Jessica was taking notes.<\/p>\n
Rebecca continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you two got serious, I almost told you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he seemed different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah\u2019s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I believed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah\u2019s voice became quieter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I believed it too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both women sat with that.<\/p>\n
David had not been violent every day.<\/p>\n
If he had been, leaving might have seemed simpler.<\/p>\n
He had been funny.<\/p>\n
Generous.<\/p>\n
Protective.<\/p>\n
Patient.<\/p>\n
Until he wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Rebecca wiped her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah\u2019s stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca nodded.<\/p>\n
Sarah knew David\u2019s father had died five years earlier.<\/p>\n
She had also known he drank heavily.<\/p>\n
David rarely discussed his childhood.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe hit Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid saw it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe both did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow often?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca looked toward the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah felt suddenly cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid anyone help you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPolice?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce a neighbor called.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom told them nothing happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah closed her eyes.<\/p>\n
The pattern was older than she had known.<\/p>\n
Not an excuse.<\/p>\n
An inheritance left unchallenged.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did David do when your father hit her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes he hid.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s voice broke.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes he tried to stop him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah opened her eyes.<\/p>\n
The image hurt in a way she did not expect.<\/p>\n
A young David standing between adults.<\/p>\n
A frightened boy.<\/p>\n
The same man who later frightened his own children.<\/p>\n
Rebecca continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter Dad died, David said he\u2019d never be like him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told me that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said that the first time he hit me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s face collapsed.<\/p>\n
Sarah had not planned to say it.<\/p>\n
But once spoken, the sentence sat between them.<\/p>\n
Rebecca whispered, \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah almost snapped that sorry was not enough.<\/p>\n
Then she remembered what she had told Chloe.<\/p>\n
An apology mattered only when joined to change.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing now?\u201d Sarah asked.<\/p>\n
Rebecca looked confused.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re sorry. What are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI gave the detective everything I know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI stopped taking David\u2019s calls.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah listened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told Mom she needs to stop making excuses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah\u2019s eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat excuses?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat jail is ruining his life. That alcohol made him do it. That you should let him see the kids because they need their father.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah felt anger rise.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes she know what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she still says that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s expression hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told her the kids need safety more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah said nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also contacted Melanie.\u201d<\/p>\n
That surprised everyone except perhaps the prosecutor.<\/p>\n
Sarah leaned forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou found her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnline.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she respond?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca looked toward Jessica.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s willing to speak with investigators.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah\u2019s pulse quickened.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid David hurt her more than once?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca did not answer.<\/p>\n
Jessica stepped in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should let investigators establish that directly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means yes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means we shouldn\u2019t speculate before a formal statement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah leaned back.<\/p>\n
For once she accepted the boundary.<\/p>\n
After the meeting, Sarah stood outside the building with Jessica.<\/p>\n
Traffic moved along the street.<\/p>\n
People carried coffee.<\/p>\n
A delivery truck blocked half a lane.<\/p>\n
The world remained offensively normal.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe saw it as a kid,\u201d Sarah said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHis dad hurt his mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then he did the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica waited.<\/p>\n
Sarah looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes that matter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt helps explain history.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes it excuse anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI needed you to say that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel sorry for the boy he was.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s allowed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m angry at the man.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s allowed too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked toward the courthouse.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many people get trapped in the same thing because nobody stops it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica answered carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore than should.\u201d<\/p>\n
At home that evening, Chloe noticed Sarah was distracted.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you see Aunt Rebecca?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow was it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHard.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything is hard lately.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is an accurate review.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs she on Dad\u2019s side?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah considered the phrasing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think she\u2019s trying to be on the truth\u2019s side.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that different?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan she visit?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe someday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe nodded.<\/p>\n
Then asked, \u201cDoes Grandma still think Dad should come home?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho told you that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why are you asking?\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandma texted me before you changed my phone number.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah\u2019s stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter Dad got arrested.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe looked wary.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t get mad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. At her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll try.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said families forgive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah closed her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said Dad loves us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat part may be true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said Mom was very upset and sometimes people say things when they\u2019re upset.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah opened her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen did she send this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe week we were at the shelter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI deleted it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I didn\u2019t want you to go back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah went still.<\/p>\n
Chloe\u2019s face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought if Grandma made you feel bad, you might.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah sat beside her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were trying to protect me again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want you doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, listen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah waited until Chloe looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are not responsible for keeping me away from Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe\u2019s eyes filled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are not responsible for deciding what Grandma gets to say to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are not responsible for making this family safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe\u2019s mouth trembled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah touched her chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the adults helping us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe wiped one eye.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou promise?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause sometimes you say stuff like that and then you get scared.\u201d<\/p>\n
The honesty stung.<\/p>\n
Sarah nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do get scared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo how can you promise?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah thought carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can promise that being scared won\u2019t decide for me anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe considered that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cGlad it passed inspection.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next morning Sarah called David\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n
It was the first time they had spoken directly since the arrest.<\/p>\n
Linda answered on the second ring.<\/p>\n
\u201cSarah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you message Chloe?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was trying to comfort her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told her families forgive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told a nine-year-old child to carry an adult decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told her I was upset and implied I might have misunderstood what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda\u2019s tone changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know David loves those children.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis conversation is not about whether he loves them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s their father.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they were hiding from him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda exhaled sharply.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was drinking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah closed her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not contact Chloe again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t cut us all off.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can protect my children.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m their grandmother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen act like it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
Sarah rarely spoke that sharply before.<\/p>\n
Her own voice surprised her.<\/p>\n
Linda responded quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid says you\u2019re turning everyone against him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah almost laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked toward Chloe and Liam eating breakfast.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s finally losing control over the story.\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda said nothing.<\/p>\n
Sarah continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you want a relationship with the children someday, it begins by respecting the protective order and respecting me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re keeping his children from him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe court is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou started this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah\u2019s voice remained calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid started this years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda inhaled.<\/p>\n
Sarah waited for argument.<\/p>\n
Instead Linda said something unexpected.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis father used to say the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat I started it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda\u2019s voice became thin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he hit me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neither woman spoke.<\/p>\n
Rebecca had told the truth.<\/p>\n
Sarah looked at the kitchen wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda began crying quietly.<\/p>\n
Sarah felt no triumph.<\/p>\n
Only exhaustion.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know exactly why I\u2019m not going back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda whispered, \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen stop asking me to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah ended the call.<\/p>\n
For several minutes she remained still.<\/p>\n
Chloe watched from the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cWas that Grandma?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah walked over.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe studied her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked toward her daughter.<\/p>\n
For once, she did not need Chloe to carry the entire complicated truth.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe understood more than she wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chloe nodded slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that good?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah sat beside her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rebecca Miller contacted Sarah through the prosecutor\u2019s office. Not directly. Not by text. Not through family. She asked whether Sarah would be willing to speak with her in a controlled … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feel-one-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/feelonestory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/feelonestory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/feelonestory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelonestory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelonestory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9597"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/feelonestory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9597\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9640,"href":"https:\/\/feelonestory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9597\/revisions\/9640"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelonestory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/feelonestory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelonestory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelonestory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}