Then they could decide what to do.
âI canât imagine Sara doing something so mean, but sheâs still a young girl. I doubt that she was serious.â Kate wasnât one hundred percent sure of this, but for now, sheâd keep the thought to herself.
âYou wouldnât say that if youâd seen the look on her face. Aunt Kate, she truly scares me. I just want you and Uncle Alex to watch out. Thereâs no telling what the little monster will do at this point,â Emily said.
Kate nodded, forced a smile. âIâll keep that in mind. Now why donât you run along to the kennels. Alex is waiting for you.â
âOkay, Iâd like that. Thanks, Aunt Kate. I feel better with you knowing whatâs really been going on with Sara.â
âDonât worry about her just now. Letâs just enjoy this visit.â Kate ruffled Emilyâs smooth blond ponytail. âNow get out of here and have some fun.â
âI knew I could count on you,â Emily shouted as she headed for the kennels.
Kate was extremely worried about Sara. If she would threaten her sister with a knife, who knew what else she would try. She was going to speak to Alex as soon as they had a minute alone. Together they could decide if this was something they needed to share with Don and Debbie before they left on their cruise, or if it was something that could wait. Kate didnât like to put things off. Sheâd find a few minutes to corner Alex during the day. Something told her they shouldnât put off having this discussion.
Chapter 3
âD o you believe Emily?â Alex asked Kate. Sheâd repeated Emilyâs concerns to Alex while he took a shower. She didnât want to take a chance of being overheard. The bathroom was the safest place in the house at the moment.
âOf course I do. Emily doesnât go around making up this kind of stuff. And besides, what would be the point? Sheâs very concerned about Sara, and, frankly, Iâm a little nervous having her in the house for two weeks.â
There was something unsettling about the twelve-year-old. It wasnât just the things Emily had revealed to her. There was more. The word evil kept coming to mind. Kate couldnât mention that to Alex. At least not yet. Sheâd do her best to get through the next couple of weeks. Sheâd just have to be extra vigilant. In two weeks, the girls would return to Naples with their parents. She and Alex would go about their daily lives as before.
Alex turned off the shower. Kate handed him a large bath towel as he stepped onto the pink, fluffy rug.
âI think your worry is unnecessary. This is probably just some preteen phase sheâs going through. Maybe sheâs trying to get attention. Weâll keep our eyes and ears open. Iâll put her to work in the kennel with Gertie.â Alex laughed. His eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. Kate loved to see him smile. It could brighten the worst of her days.
Kate tossed the towel over the hamper and handed Alex a dark green bathrobe.
âWe might need to warn Gertie. Let her know what Emilyâs observed. If anyone can help straighten out a rotten kid, itâs Gertie,â Kate said. She knew this from personal experience. She wondered if Gertie had the skills to handle a child like Sara. Maybe she should tell Debbie what Emily had witnessed. No, she would wait. Sheâd made a promise, and she would do her best to keep it.
Besides, Gertie had worked for her parents for twenty years. Kate remembered getting scolded by Gertie on more than one occasion. She had to admit, Gertie had always been fair and wise with her discipline. Sheâd covered her rear more than once with her parents. Right when Kate thought she was about to get away with her so-called crime, Gertie always seemed to have an appropriate punishment. Like the time sheâd caught her and Jocelyn Myers drinking Booneâs Farm