She gave her dog a secret signal—and when the courtroom finally heard her voice, the shocking truth about her father was revealed. ‘Moose knows,’ she whispered, ‘he knows who’s dangerous.

My name is Rachel Cooper, and I’m a child advocate attorney. In my line of work, I’ve seen pain dressed up in Sunday clothes and smiles that hide bruises. But nothing—and I mean nothing—could’ve prepared me for what happened in courtroom 3B that stormy Wednesday morning.