The little girl hadn’t spoken since the night her mother was found on the kitchen floor! Then the court dog lowered his head-and she whispered one sentence toward the defense table…

with hard hands. She was drawing a square house with flowers along the bottom. Beside it stood a dog so large it was nearly the same size as the house.

Ava crouched near her. “You were very brave.”

Lily colored one flower purple. “Boone helped.”

“He did.”

“Is the loud man gone?”

Ava chose each word with care. “He’s with the deputies. He can’t come near continue reading …