"Marcus, take Martha to our car to rest. I want to talk to Pek alone," Luke planned to separate them for questioning.
"OK, Martha, I have some tasty snacks in my car that you're definitely going to like."
"No, I'm not going anywhere. I want to stay with my brother." Martha clung tightly to the black boy, Pek, looking at Marcus warily, as if seeing a shady uncle with bad intentions.
"Martha must stay with me. I don't want her to be frightened again." Pek held his sister, small in stature but firm in tone.
Luke disliked questioning children. Speaking too softly was ineffective, yet speaking harshly wasn't appropriate either.
Just like now, Pek driving and hitting someone was definitely illegal, but since he was a minor, questioning him required a guardian to be present.
The situation for Pek and Martha was complicated; their mother was a suspect in custody, their father's identity was unknown, and a man suspected to be their father was a fugitive.
