Nightwatching

Her father-in-law still refuses to take her calls. The mother often calls the sergeant to ask about her children, and he asks her to stop calling. She surmises that the only way to get out of the hospital and get her children back is to “behave” and to prove to law enforcement and to her doctors that she is mentally and physically stable. Though her face is still painful, she stops using the pain pump and weans herself off the narcotics. Her doctor requires the psychiatrist to sign off on her discharge papers, and he declares that she has greatly improved. They plan to continue meeting virtually after her discharge. The mother learns that the police must do another search of her home with her before she can move back in. She arranges for the sergeant to pick her up from the hospital after her discharge. She also hires a security company to install a security system and cameras at the house.

The sergeant and the young officer take her home and thoroughly sweep the house. Unaided by pain meds,