Lucy looked toward the chair.
Then toward her mother.
“Mama?”
Emma smiled.
“Yes?”
“Can you make a bird?”
Emma looked toward the paper.
For a moment, she seemed uncertain.
Then she sat beside the table.
Lucy selected a yellow square.
Emma took it.
Her fingers moved slowly.
She folded one corner.
Then another.
After several minutes, her hands began trembling.
She stopped.
Lucy watched.
For a moment, the little girl's face tightened.
Then she reached toward the paper.
“I can help.”
Emma smiled.
“Please.”
Together, they finished the crane.
It wasn't perfectly shaped.
One wing was larger than the other.
And the neck leaned slightly to the left.
But when Lucy placed it on the table, she smiled as though she'd created something extraordinary.
Emma looked toward her daughter.
“Beautiful.”
Lucy nodded proudly.
Then she became quiet.
For several seconds, she stared toward the garden entrance.
Finally, she asked.
“Mama, do you remember the man with the raven?”
Emma's expression changed.
Mara immediately looked toward her sister.
They had been careful about how they discussed the investigation around Lucy, allowing her questions to guide the conversation without placing the burden of the case upon her.
Emma took a slow breath.
“Yes.”
Lucy swallowed.
“Did he hurt you?”
For a moment, Emma closed her eyes.
Then she nodded.
“Yes.”
Lucy looked down.
Her fingers tightened around the paper crane.
Then she whispered.
“Why?”
Emma's eyes filled.
For several seconds, she struggled with the answer.
Finally, she said quietly.
“He wanted something that wasn't his.”
Lucy looked up.
“What?”
Emma glanced toward Mara.
Then back at her daughter.
“Papers. Money. Things that mattered to other people.”
Lucy frowned.
“Why didn't he just ask?”
Emma gave a sad smile.
“Sometimes people make terrible choices because they're frightened of being found out.”
Lucy considered that.
Then asked.
“Was it because of me?”
Emma's expression broke.
She reached toward her daughter.
“No.”
Lucy began trembling.
Emma continued.
“Not you, sparrow.”
Mara's eyes filled.
Emma took the little girl's hands.
“Never you.”
For several seconds, Lucy stared.
Then she leaned forward and hugged her mother.
Emma held her gently.
Mara looked away, crying quietly.
They remained beside the table for a long time.
Then Lucy whispered.
“Hammer made me a bird.”
Emma looked surprised.
“He did?”
Lucy nodded.
“He's really big.”
Emma smiled faintly.
“So I've heard.”
Lucy continued.
“He has ravens too.”
For a moment, Emma's expression tightened.