Interviewer: I’m going to have to interview you and your husband separately. Is that okay?

  Maya: Of course. Anything to help.

  {Interviewer leads Maya to a separate room}

  I: Perfect. I can’t thank you enough for your cooperation in all this.

  M: Of course, of course. What’s going on? What’s wrong with Dawn? We weren’t told much, just that we were needed in for questioning. Has she done something?

  I: Dawn is okay, ma’am. We’re just investigating some reports made by her dormmate about her sneaking other people in.

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  M: But certainly that doesn’t call for a full investigation like this? That doesn’t seem like her.

  I: I’m afraid it has grown more complicated recently. I’d like to get to the questions if you please. I’m sure we’d all like to wrap this up as soon as possible.

  M: Okay. What do you need to know?

  I: Mainly we’re curious about her past. You and Jax aren’t her biological parents?

  M: That’s right. Her biological parents died in a car crash 11 years go. Quite tragic, really. She’s the only one who survived.

  I: When did you gain custody of Dawn?

  M: She came to live with us after being rejected from a couple families. She was 11, I believe. Quiet, lonely, but not a bad kid. By then we already had Acey, and Ellie was on the way. She never really connected that closely with the others, but she wasn’t rude or disrespectful. Stayed in her room a lot.

  I: I see. And you didn’t find any problems with this?

  M: No, not specifically. She had good grades and never caused problems at school or at home. We thought she just needed to get out of the house, make her own life. I take it that’s not what happened.

  I: Thank you for your time, Mrs. Ladner.

  {Recording Stops}