Chapter 7 - The first time in the kennel
It was not Cole’s idea at first.
That surprised everyone.
Rachel had taken Emily to the old property because she wanted to confront Cole away from our house.
At least that was her eventual explanation.
Emily heard them arguing.
She tried to call me.
Rachel took her phone.
Emily shouted:
“I’m telling Daddy everything.”
Rachel told her to stop.
Emily ran toward Mrs. Harris’s fence.
Cole caught her arm.
That explained one bruise.
Rachel later admitted she panicked about Emily running toward the road.
She looked at the old kennel.
Said:
“Put her somewhere she can’t run for ten minutes.”
Cole opened it.
Emily refused.
He pushed her inside.
Rachel closed the door.
No padlock the first time.
Ten minutes became twenty-seven according to a timestamp on Rachel’s phone when she photographed the backyard.
Why photograph it?
Not Emily.
The pool.
The property listing.
The kennel appeared in the corner.
Emily was visible inside.
Tiny.
May you like
Easy to miss.
Impossible to unsee afterward.
