“Where is she?” I asked.
“Upstairs,” Marisa said sharply. “And before you rush in there, you need to understand—this isn’t normal behavior.”
I didn’t respond.
I went upstairs and knocked once before opening Avery’s door.
She looked terrified.
“I was going to tell you,” she said immediately, voice shaking. “I swear. I just didn’t know how.”
I sat down in front of her and took her hands.
“You never have to be scared to tell me anything,” I said. “Never.”
She took a deep breath.
