Manny knew that by protocol, he needed to step aside, to let proper channels handle the case. But something rooted him there instead. It was the same instinct that had driven him years ago, during that investigation he never solved. The one that still kept him awake at night.
When the girl finally woke, she jerked upright at the sight of unfamiliar faces and tried scrambling off the bed. Panic twisted her features until the dog quickly pressed against her side, nudging her with a steady insistence. Slowly, her trembling eased, but her eyes remained wide, tracking every movement in the room.