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…

“For your work,” she said.

Ava took the picture carefully. “Thank you.”

Detective Carver approached from the end of the hall with his phone in hand and the expression of a man carrying another door that had just opened.

“Derek Mallory’s attorney called,” he said quietly. “He wants to talk.”

Ava looked at Lily’s drawing, then back toward Courtroom 6A, where continue reading …