Even though Nora Ainsworth had braced herself for the news, she still couldn't accept it. The child wasn't her own, but she felt a mix of powerlessness, guilt, and rage.
She felt powerless because, legally, as long as the biological parents were alive and their custody rights hadn't been revoked, no one could intervene and forcibly keep their child.
She felt guilty because if Nina Young hadn't gone back to her parents, she would still be alive.
And she felt rage because such incredibly irresponsible parents actually existed in this world—parents who could harm their own flesh and blood. Domestic violence was terrifying, a grave threat to a child's life.
"The specific cause of death will require an autopsy, but we can basically determine that the primary cause was a blow to the head."
"Doctor, the child has suffered enough. Please, no autopsy."
"You'll have to discuss that with the police."
"You don't need to worry about the police. We can handle it."
