Chapter 2 - THE NIGHT OF THE GARAGE
Emma did not answer.
Michael stepped into the room.
“What are you hiding?”
“Nothing.”
He stared at her shoes.
Emma’s heart hammered.
“Take them off.”
She froze.
Michael’s expression changed.
“Emma.”
Olivia sat up.
“Daddy, she didn’t do anything.”
Michael looked at Olivia.
“Lie down.”
Olivia obeyed.
Emma bent slowly and removed her left shoe.
Then her right.
The syringe was tucked beneath the insole.
Michael picked up both shoes.
He turned them over.
Nothing fell out.
He handed them back.
“Next time I ask you a question, answer.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
He left.
Emma waited until his footsteps disappeared.
Then she looked at Olivia.
“We need to find Mom.”
“How?”
Emma did not know.
But that night she heard Michael in the garage.
He was arguing with someone.
Emma crept downstairs.
Olivia followed.
The garage door was cracked open.
Michael’s voice came through.
“You should have kept her quiet.”
A woman answered.
“You told me she wouldn’t remember.”
Emma frowned.
She did not recognize the voice.
Michael said:
“She remembers enough.”
“What about the girls?”
“They’re children.”
“Children talk.”
Michael lowered his voice.
“Not if they’re frightened of losing each other.”
Emma looked at Olivia.
Olivia’s hand tightened around hers.
The woman said:
“And Laura?”
Michael went silent.
Emma stopped breathing.
The woman continued.
“You cannot keep pretending she ran away.”
Michael whispered:
“I can until the hearing.”
“What hearing?”
“The trust hearing.”
Emma did not understand.
The woman cursed softly.
“Michael, this has gone too far.”
“No. It went too far when Laura tried to take my daughters and my father’s money.”
Emma accidentally shifted her foot.
The garage floor squeaked.
Silence.
Michael turned toward the door.
Emma grabbed Olivia and ran.
They reached the stairs just before the garage door opened.
Michael called:
“Girls?”
They did not answer.
They climbed into bed and pretended to sleep.
Michael stood in the doorway for a long time.
The next morning, Olivia could barely stand.
Michael gave her more medicine.
She cried.
He grabbed her chin.
“Swallow it.”
Emma watched.
Something inside her broke.
That afternoon, Michael left to meet his attorney.
Emma put on her gray hoodie.
She helped Olivia into hers.
Then she pulled the empty syringe from her shoe.
“We’re going to the police.”
Olivia’s eyes widened.
“Daddy will find us.”
Emma nodded.
“I know.”
“He’ll be mad.”
“I know.”
“What if they take us apart?”
Emma grabbed her sister’s hand.
“They won’t.”
“How do you know?”
Emma lied.
May you like
“Because I’m older.”
Eleven minutes later, they were running in the rain.
