Chapter 2 - The Words About Friday
Garrett returned to the kitchen and searched Rachel’s phone, moving through her calls and messages while she remained on the floor. He found nothing. When the porch light came on a few minutes later, however, the confidence drained from his face.
Linda lived nearly forty minutes away. Standing beyond the gate was Howard Finch, a retired fire captain from across the street. Linda had contacted emergency services and asked Howard to confirm the address and wait outside.
A county vehicle stopped at the curb without a siren.
“Sheriff’s office. Open the door and keep your hands where we can see them.”
Garrett pulled a kitchen knife from a drawer, hooked an arm beneath Rachel’s shoulder, and dragged her upright. Her injured leg folded beneath her.
“You’re going to say you slipped.”
“No.”
The pounding at the entrance grew louder. From the bedroom, Ellie continued to cry without opening the door.
Garrett began pulling Rachel toward the back patio. “You ruined everything. All you had to do was hold it together until Friday.”
For one strange instant, every sound around her seemed to fade.
Friday. What was supposed to happen on Friday?
The front frame strained under another heavy push. Garrett tried to lift Rachel without releasing the knife, but she let her entire weight fall sideways. His grip shifted, giving her enough room to press his wrist away and crawl toward the dining table.
“Put the knife down!” an officer called from the living room.
Garrett turned. For years, his orders had been the only ones that mattered inside that house; now two deputies stood between him and the hallway. The knife dropped onto the tile.
From behind the locked bedroom door came a small voice. “I’m still here.”
“Ellie, don’t open yet,” Rachel called.
“Grandma says not to.”
After a deputy confirmed that Garrett had been taken outside, Rachel told Ellie to turn the lock. The child emerged with swollen eyes and the phone beneath her pajama top. She saw her mother’s leg and stopped.
“Can I hug you?”
Rachel swallowed hard. Even then, after everything the child had witnessed, Ellie was asking permission.
“Always, honey. Come here.”
Ellie knelt carefully and rested her head against Rachel’s shoulder. Then she pulled out the phone.
“Grandma?”
May you like
“I’m still with you,” Linda answered.
Only then did Ellie allow herself to sob, because the person who had promised to remain on the line truly had remained.
