Six days out, the twins’ case broke open. A department notice: “Case four one two seven dash B reassigned to independent advocate, effective immediately.” Not adoption. Review. But motion after years of freeze. A worker added quietly, “Recent reporting prompted expedited action.” Nina’s story had drawn first blood.
The continuity policy faced formal suspension. Lawmakers tabled the national rollout pending “clarification of metrics.” Internal emails leaked: “Exemplary sites no longer exemplary.” The machine that ran on stillness now ran on damage control. Nina watched the budget lines she had mapped begin to twitch.