“I own a motorcycle repair shop.”
“Eight years.”
“I pay taxes.”
“Residence?”
“Trailer outside Apache Junction.”
“One bedroom.”
“Stable.”
“Married?”
“Divorced.”
“Children?”
“No.”
Moira wrote everything down.
Then she looked up.
“Mr. Carter.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m going to be honest.”
“On paper…”
“You are one of the worst candidates Arizona would ever consider for custody.”
“I know.”
“But…”
“Based on what I’ve seen today…”
“And based on what your friends told me…”
“I think you may be exactly what this child needs.”
Jack looked at her.
“You do?”
“I do.”
“But the judge decides.”
“And the judge will see your record.”
“Your vest.”
“Your past.”
“So we need to give him something stronger.”
“What?”
“Emma.”
“Her story.”
“Her truth.”
Moira turned toward the little girl.
“Emma?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I ask you some questions?”
“Jack said you would.”
“You can say no.”
“You can stop anytime.”
“Okay.”
“How old are you?”
“Seven.”
“Do you know your birthday?”
“June fourth.”
“Do you know your mother?”
“She died.”
“When I was little.”
“Do you know your father?”
“No.”
“Any family?”
“Grandparents?”
“Aunts?”
“Uncles?”
Emma became quiet.
Jack noticed.
“Emma.”
“Honey, you can tell her.”
“I have a grandma.”
Moira stopped writing.
“You do?”
“She didn’t want me.”
Jack’s eyes moved to her.
“When my mom died…”
“They called her.”
“I was at a neighbor’s house.”
“I heard her on the phone.”
“She said my name.”
“Then she listened.”
“Then she said…”
“You won’t take her.”
“Not even for a little while.”
“And then she cried.”
“And then the next day…”
“They took me to the first fence place.”
Moira wrote quickly.
“Do you remember your grandmother’s name?”
“No.”
“Your mother’s name?”
“Mama.”
“Her real name?”
“Diane.”
“Diane Blake.”
Moira slowly looked at Jack.
“Mr. Carter.”
“Can I speak with you outside?”
Jack looked at Emma.
“I’ll be right there.”
“I’m not leaving.”
Emma nodded.
Jack and Moira stepped outside.
“Diane Blake.”
“Yeah.”