“Mr. Carter, did you make the report?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll speak somewhere private.”
Halloway gestured toward his office. “Please use my conference area.”
“I’d prefer a neutral room,” Mercer said.
The receptionist offered the library, which had already emptied for the day.
I walked there with Emma while Officer Diaz remained in the hallway. Halloway started to follow, but Mercer stopped him.
“We’ll speak with you separately.”
Inside the library, late sunlight stretched across rows of low shelves. Colorful paper birds hung from the ceiling, turning slowly in the air-conditioning.
Emma sat beside me at a round table.
Sergeant Mercer removed her notebook but did not open it immediately.
“Emma,” she said, “my name is Anne. Your dad told us you had a frightening afternoon. You are not in trouble.”
Emma looked at me before answering.
“I know.”
“Would you rather tell me what happened with your dad here, or would you like another trusted adult present?”
“My dad can stay.”
Mercer nodded.
She asked simple questions. What class had Emma been in? What happened before she entered the room? Who closed the door? Could she open it from inside?
Emma’s answers came slowly.
