Page 104 of The Witch’s Orchard

Rock. Rock. Rock. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Deep breath. I open a picture of Cole Jacobs from a news article. Hold it toward Olivia.

“This is your uncle, Cole. Do you recognize him?”

Her rocking continues. She holds the highlighter tight in her left hand, taps with the other.

“And this is Bob and Rebecca Ziegler. They work at your church.”

She looks at them and then immediately looks away, a low growl in her throat.

“She doesn’t like them,” Nicole says.

“Oh?”

She shakes her head.

“Do you know why?”

“When we were younger, my parents tried to have Olivia prayed over and baptized… I don’t know. Anyway, Oliviahated it.”’

“Did she have a problem with Brother Bob or Rebecca before that?”

Nicole shakes her head. “I don’t remember. I was little.”

“Do you remember the service?”

“I remember my mom took Olivia up to the front of the church and everyone put their hands on Olivia’s head and shoulders. You didn’t like it, did you, Liv?”

Olivia rocks faster now. Bangs her hand—balled into a fist—against her thigh.

“No,” Nicole says. “She was not a fan. I wouldn’t be either.”

“It’s okay,” I say to Olivia. “We’re not going to do that. We’re not going to touch you.”

Top 40 plays. There’s a chorus about love and listening to a heartbeat and Olivia rocks along and I wait until she steadies.

“I’m going to show you another picture. Okay?”

Rock, rock.

She’s still holding the highlighter as I scroll through my phone.

Rock, rock. Tap. Tap.

I decide to introduce a control. I switch over to my browser and search for stock photos. I show her a picture of a woman in a pretty dress.

Rock, rock. Tap. Tap.

I show her a picture of a man making bread.

Rock, rock. Tap. Tap.

I show her a picture of a couple sitting on a sofa together.

Rock, rock. Tap. Tap.

Just in case, I show her an old mug shot of Dwight Hoyle.