Chapter 2 - DON'T LOOK AT THE POOL
Michael ripped the tarp away.
Emily crawled toward the bars.
“DADDY!”
Her scream nearly destroyed him.
He dropped to his knees.
The cage was meant for a large dog.
Metal.
Padlocked.
Blanket underneath.
Emily wore the same pale blue hoodie she had packed six days earlier.
Dirty now.
Her face was pale.
Her hands shook.
Michael grabbed the padlock.
No key.
He ran to the shed.
Found pliers.
Came back.
His hands shook so badly he missed the lock twice.
“Daddy!”
“I’m here.”
He squeezed.
Metal bent.
Again.
The lock snapped.
Michael tore the cage open and pulled Emily into his arms.
“Oh God… Emily.”
She clung to him so hard he could barely stand.
He lifted her.
“Where’s Rebecca?”
Emily buried her face in his shoulder.
“Go.”
“Where’s Grant?”
“Daddy, go.”
Michael moved toward the gate.
Then Emily saw the swimming pool.
Her entire body went rigid.
She kicked against him.
“DADDY, RUN!”
Michael turned instinctively.
The water was dark green.
Several large black contractor bags sat beneath the surface.
Weighted.
Shapes shifting slightly under algae-clouded water.
Emily covered Michael’s eyes with both hands.
“DON’T LOOK!”
He pulled her hands down gently.
“Emily.”
She pointed away.
“Please… just take me home!”
Michael stared at the bags.
His anger changed.
Fear now.
Not because he knew what was inside.
Because Emily did.
“What’s in the pool?”
She froze.
Her eyes widened.
Then a car door slammed out front.
Emily began shaking violently.
“They’re back.”
Michael did not ask who.
He ran.
Over the gate.
Across the side yard.
Emily in his arms.
A voice shouted from the front porch.
“MICHAEL!”
Rebecca.
Michael did not stop.
He put Emily into his truck.
Locked the doors.
Called 911.
Then Grant appeared in the driveway.
“Open the door!”
Michael stepped between him and the truck.
Grant raised both hands.
“This is not what it looks like.”
Michael stared.
“My daughter was in a cage.”
“She was hiding.”
Michael almost hit him.
Then remembered Emily watching.
He stepped back.
Police sirens approached.
Grant’s face changed.
Rebecca ran toward the backyard.
Michael pointed.
“Don’t touch anything.”
Rebecca froze.
Then:
“What did she show you?”
Michael felt cold.
Not:
What happened?
What did she show you?
May you like
Police entered the yard.
And Emily began crying again.
