Robbie’s coworker Lacey Miller is assigned the “Ahmeti children” in conjunction with Robbie. They meet to discuss the case. Robbie learns that Bashkim and Tirana are in separate foster homes and wants to talk to Lacey to see if that can be fixed. Lacey insists the system can’t accommodate the two children’s needs and that Roberta should be happy they are with two good foster families. The children also have no family or friends in the US, which makes matters worse. Reports about the Ahmeti children from the foster families indicate how well-behaved and smart they are, though Bashkim has been “very sad, very serious” (234) since the incident. Baba wants custody of his children, but he is on suicide watch at a mental health facility and seems unlikely to be considered capable to care for them. Robbie realizes she must talk with him to get more information to help the children.

The next day, she goes to meet Baba (Sadik Ahmeti). She is immediately startled by his explosive aggression and wonders if she will be safe in his presence. He demands to have his kids back, and he is scared when she mentions court as part of the systemic process.