up to a graffiti-covere

car even fully stopped. The smell of ol

the flashlight. She ran down the dark,

ind a rusted metal door, sh

ed the d

a pile of cardboard

ed the tiny, burning-hot body into her

am swept over the ch

w bruises covered Ann

himper, her little fingers clutching instinctively at Isab

cream. She scooped Anna up an

herself in front of it. The car screeched to a halt. She yanked the back

hrough the streets toward the n

open, carrying Anna in her

ipped Anna from her arms and wheeled her be

cold white wall. Her legs cou

or in blue scrubs walked out. He h

ollow him into a small, windo

stages of healing," the doctor said. His voice was c

row condition-she bruises easily. But those brui

lothes, her messy hair, and her w

ed reporter," he said coldly. "I am requ

toward the

unched in the stomach. If CPS too

ceiver. "Please," she begged, tears finally spilling o

A nurse poked her head in. "Doctor, the gi

and ran into the trauma room. Sh

pen ready on his clipboard. He

un-IV-hooked hand. She to

Isabella's neck, violently flinching when the doctor stepped closer. She didn't need to

tance, the absolute desperation in the way she clung to

is clipboard. He le

But I will state in my official report that the child's severe trauma responses point to the father as the abuser, and that you brought her in to

rehead, closing her eyes as the crushi