She remained in the car for a moment. James parked behind her, stepped out, and waited. When she finally joined him, he said, "I can stay while you tell her."
"No," Maya answered. "But I want you to come back tomorrow."
"I'll be here."
Zoe opened the front door before Maya reached it. "Mom, you were supposed to be home an hour ago," she said, then stopped when she saw the way Maya was walking. Her expression changed in an instant. "What happened?"
"Something difficult," Maya said. "I'm okay, but I need to sit down."
Zoe stepped aside, suddenly quiet. She brought Maya water, a pillow, and the first-aid kit before anybody asked for them. When Maya finally explained, carefully but without lying, her daughter sat on the opposite couch with both hands curled into fists. Zoe had inherited her mother's patience in some situations and none of it when she believed somebody she loved had been treated unfairly.
"He made you kneel?" she asked.
"Yes."
"In the street?"
"Yes."
"And people watched?"
Maya nodded. Zoe's eyes filled, though she tried to hide it by looking toward the window. "Did he know you work with the law?" she asked.
"No."
"Why didn't you tell him?"
"Because I needed to get home."
"But he would've stopped."