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…

Lily was curled against his side, her cheek pressed to his vest as if it were a place on a map she could trust.

“I’m afraid of hurting her,” Ava said.

“Then don’t chase the testimony,” he told her. “Let her lead you to it.”

That afternoon, Ava followed. She placed a fresh sheet of paper and a box of crayons on the edge of the witness stand, then stepped continue reading …