was alive.
Maybe Evan had been afraid.
Maybe Claire had not simply abandoned the children out of selfishness.
Maybe there was a story underneath the story.
Elise waited until we were inside my office before speaking.
“We have to move carefully.”
I stood near the window. “That phrase is becoming irritating.”
“It’s also the only thing keeping this from turning into a legal disaster.”
“The children were told their mother was dead.”
“And now we have a photograph suggesting she was alive eight months ago. That does not tell us where she is, why she left, whether she was safe, whether she had legal custody issues, whether she contacted Evan, whether Claire was helping her or harming her—”
“Helping her?” I turned sharply.
Elise did not flinch. “I’m not defending Claire. I’m identifying possibilities.”
“She abandoned them.”
“Yes. And that is its own matter. But the photograph tells us Claire
