Cooper turned toward the bench. “It was someone at the safe,” she said, translating the gesture. The statement landed with quiet weight. Merritt felt the mood shift again—tiny truths, carefully pieced together, gaining shape.
Lowell rose, his voice clipped. “Your Honor, this child’s memories are fragmentary at best. We can’t build a case from gestures and guesses.” His words carried impatience, but also defensiveness.