“Emily,” Laura said gently, trying to maintain a calm demeanor despite the storm of emotions raging inside her, “you’re very brave for telling us this. We’re going to make sure that you’re safe, okay?”

Emily nodded, her eyes wide and still brimming with tears. Her mother reached over, enveloping her in a protective embrace, silently conveying the strength she hoped to summon for the both of them.

Laura turned to Sergeant Gomez, who had already begun coordinating with the officers outside. There was a flurry of activity as they prepared to bring Ryan Carter in for questioning. The precinct knew that they had to tread carefully—Ryan’s position as a paramedic meant he was well-respected, and any misstep could easily spiral into a media frenzy.