Betrayal Read Online Free PDF

was something Kate thought Don and Debbie should know, she wasn’t sure if she could keep her promise, but she wasn’t about to tell this to Emily. She took a deep breath, “I promise.” For a second she felt like hiding her hands behind her back and crossing her fingers, but she was too old for that, and it didn’t mean anything anyway.
    â€œWe have these neighbors, the Conzelmans. They live two houses down from us. They’ve been retired for I don’t know how long, but they’re the sweetest old people.” Emily smiled. “You know what I mean. Anyway, they have three cats, Snuggles, Eddie, and Clovis. They’re inside cats, but Snuggles—he’s the oldest—escaped the other day. Sara found him in our backyard.”
    â€œI hope she took him home.” Kate remarked.
    â€œI did. But before I took him home, I saw her dragging him around our backyard by the tail. Poor Snuggles was screeching. You know how cats sound when they cry? It was almost like a real baby. I peeked out the window thinking a little kid was lost or something. That’s when I saw her pulling the cat around. I ran outside and grabbed the cat and took him home. I didn’t tell Mom or Dad, but I did pinch the crap out of Sara.”
    Kate couldn’t imagine anything worse. “Why didn’t you tell your parents?”
    Emily shook her head. “It doesn’t do any good. Sara simply lies her way out of whatever she’s accused of and blames me or whomever she can get away with blaming. I’m not sure she can be trusted around the puppies.”
    Alarm bells rang in Kate’s head. She’d recently read that kids who were cruel to animals were at high risk for severe emotional problems. Emily was too young to deal with this. Don said they’d been having trouble with Sara. Maybe she should insist they get her into counseling. Who knew what would happen if her behavior problem wasn’t diagnosed and treated?
    â€œI’m glad you told me. I’ll tell you what we can do.” Kate’s mind whizzed with ideas. “We’ll make sure Sara isn’t alone with the animals.” She wouldn’t have to break her promise to Emily, but she would mention to Alex that they needed to supervise Sara carefully when she was with the dogs. “For now, I’ll just keep this between the two of us, but if I think your parents need to know, I’ll have to tell them.”
    â€œThat’s cool. I trust you.”
    â€œThanks, Emily. That means a lot.” Kate gently patted Emily’s back. “Now, why don’t you go out to the kennel; I’m sure Alex is waiting for you. I’ll keep Sara occupied until your mother gets up.”
    Emily hesitated. “There’s more.” She scoped out the kitchen as though she might find another set of ears eavesdropping on her conversation. When she was satisfied all was clear, she continued her story. “Sara has a mean streak. More serious than you know. I know Mom and Dad are aware of it, but they don’t do anything, except bribe her with dessert.”
    Kate could see by the look of anguish on Emily’s face that her younger sister’s behavior was very worrisome to her.
    â€œIt’s just these tantrums she’s having. Her eyes glaze over, it’s almost like she’s another person. Last week I caught her snooping through my drawers. I chased her out of the room into the kitchen.” Emily paused. “There was a knife on the kitchen counter. Sara grabbed it and said if I told on her for snooping, she’d slit my throat.”
    â€œEmily, you’ve got to tell your parents. This is very abnormal behavior, not some childish prank.”
    â€œI know, but it’s like I said. They’ll baby her, and she’ll promise never to do whatever she’s in trouble for again, then it’ll be back to her same old crap.”
    Kate would talk with Alex later.