He looked at Josephine, who glared back at him, and then he sat down.

“No questions, Your Honor,” he said.

“You may step down, Detective,” the judge said.

Harris got up and left the stand, his heavy boots clicking on the linoleum floor.

Mr. Miller turned back to the judge.

“The state calls Melanie Sullivan to the stand,” Mr. Miller said.

Melanie’s attorney stood up quickly.

“Your Honor, my client has not been fully prepared to testify today,” he said.

“She is a named defendant in the custody and endangerment petition, counsel,” the judge said.

“She will take the stand,” the judge said.

Melanie looked at Josephine.

Josephine’s mouth was a thin, hard line, and she kept her eyes fixed on the wall ahead.

Melanie slowly stood up, her knees visibly shaking beneath her floral skirt.

She walked to the stand as if she were walking toward a ledge.

She swore the oath in a whisper that the microphone barely caught.

“Please state your name,” Mr. Miller said, walking toward her.

“Melanie Sullivan,” she said.

“Melanie, you lived at the family residence in Des Moines during the months of July and August, correct?”