The repeated request, the persistent need in the girl’s voice, made her pause. It wasn’t typical for children to call back after being told to hang up. There was something more here, a sense of distress that couldn’t be ignored.
“What’s your name, sweetheart?” Susan asked, her tone softening. The girl hesitated before answering, “Lily.” Susan realized she needed to be extra careful to get useful information from Lily. “Sweetie, can you tell me your last name?” she asked gently.