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…

of paper.

Denise made a soft sound from the first bench. She had not known it was there.

Lily offered the paper to Boone first, holding it near his nose as if asking whether it was allowed to leave her hand. Then she stretched her arm toward Ava.

Ava stepped forward only far enough to take it. She unfolded the paper on the witness stand, careful not to continue reading …