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…

Whitcomb’s gavel struck once, not hard enough to scare the child, but enough to stop the rustle that had started in the gallery. “The jury is instructed to disregard any statement not made in response to a question. Mr. Pierce, sit down.”

Graham sat. Tyler stared at the tabletop, his face drained of color.

Ava did not look at the jury. She did not need continue reading …