Margaret turns twelve on a bright summer afternoon, and she asks for something considerably different than the typical requests other children her age might make.
"I want to shadow you at Second Ledger," she tells me during her birthday dinner, genuine seriousness evident despite her young age. "Not just visiting like before, but actually understanding how the investigative work happens."
I glance at Elena, both of us recognizing the familiar echo of her own childhood determination reflected clearly in her daughter's request.
"That's a considerable responsibility for someone your age," Talia says carefully, though warmth underlies her cautious tone.
"I've been reading everything," Margaret insists. "Your book, Dad's old case files that aren't confidential, everything Aunt Mira's publis
