Chapter 3 - Two FingersDavid crouched beside Sarah and seized her wrist.
His grip tightened until her fingers went numb.
“You slipped,” he said.
Sarah stared at him through tears.
“What?”
“You slipped on an orange.”
He dragged her hand toward him as though forcing agreement from her body.
“You were angry. You threw your phone. Then you fell.”
Margaret nodded approvingly.
“That is exactly what happened.”
Sarah’s injured leg pulsed with every heartbeat.
She could hear Emma sobbing near the hallway.
David leaned closer.
“You will tell the hospital the same thing.”
Sarah looked beyond his shoulder.
Emma’s face was red and wet. Her entire body shook beneath the yellow pajamas.
Three weeks earlier, Sarah had taught her a game.
One finger meant hide.
Two fingers meant press the red button.
Three fingers meant run outside to Mrs. Callahan’s house.
Sarah had prayed Emma would never need to use it.
Now David blocked most of her view.
Sarah slowly lifted her free hand.
Two fingers.
Emma’s crying stopped for half a second.
Recognition widened her eyes.
David saw Sarah’s movement and turned.
Emma spun toward the wooden side table.
“No!” David shouted.
The child ran barefoot across the hardwood.
David released Sarah and lunged after her.
His polished shoe landed on one of the rolling oranges.
His leg shot sideways.
He crashed against the marble island, sending a bowl and a lemon-cleaner bottle tumbling to the floor.
Emma reached the phone.
She slammed both hands onto the oversized red button.
A loud connection tone filled the kitchen.
Margaret’s wineglass rattled against her teeth.
David pushed himself upright.
“Emma, don’t touch that!”
The phone answered immediately.
A deep male voice came through the speaker.
“Emma?”
The little girl leaned over the device, sobbing so violently she could barely breathe.
“Grandpa, Mom looks like she’s going to die!”
David froze.
Margaret’s glass slipped from her fingers and shattered.
Sarah raised her head from the floor.
Her father’s voice became cold.
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“Stay on the line, Emma. I’m bringing the police.”
👉 The emergency call had connected, but David was about to discover Sarah’s father already knew far more than anyone in that kitchen imagined.
