Chapter 2: The Boy Who Knew Everything
Victoria arrived home seventeen minutes later.
I know because I watched the clock above the kitchen stove.
Seventeen minutes of Brandon standing in front of me, holding my father's bank statements like he had caught a criminal.
"You're in trouble now," he whispered.
"Please give those back.""
"Why?""
"Because they're Dad's.""
Brandon laughed.
"Exactly. Dad's. Not yours.""
I reached for the envelope.
He lifted it above his head.
"Come on, Emily. Tell me what you were doing.""
"I was looking for something to eat.""
He looked toward the pantry.
Then he laughed again.
"You're stealing food now?""
"Brandon, stop.""
He leaned closer.
"Maybe I'll tell Mom you were trying to steal Dad's money.""
My eyes filled with tears.
"I wasn't.""
"Then why were you touching his papers?""
Before I could answer, the front door slammed.
Victoria's heels clicked against the hardwood floor.
"Where is she?""
Brandon immediately changed his expression.
He lowered his voice and looked frightened.
"Mom, she was going through Dad's private documents.""
Victoria appeared in the kitchen.
Her shopping bags were still hanging from her arms.
She looked at the envelope.
Then at me.
"What did you touch?""
I tried to explain.
"I was hungry. I found it behind the magazines.""
Victoria dropped her shopping bags onto the counter.
"You're lying.""
"I'm not.""
"Brandon said you were going through your father's financial records.""
"Because I found them!""
Victoria stepped forward and slapped the envelope out of Brandon's hand.
The papers scattered across the kitchen floor.
"Pick those up.""
I bent down immediately.
"No," she said.
"Look at me.""
I stopped.
"Did you read these?""
I nodded.
Her jaw tightened.
"How much did you see?""
"I don't know.""
"Don't lie.""
"I saw the money you transferred.""
For the first time, her expression changed.
It wasn't anger.
It was fear.
Only for a second.
Then she grabbed my arm.
"Who told you to look at those statements?""
"Nobody!""
"Did your teacher tell you to?""
I shook my head.
"Did your father?""
"No.""
She tightened her grip.
"Then why are you involving yourself in adult matters?""
I pulled away.
"Because Dad sends money for food, and we don't have any.""
Silence.
Brandon stopped chewing his gum.
Victoria stared at me.
Then she laughed.
A short, cold laugh.
"Listen to yourself. You're accusing me of not feeding you?""
I nodded.
"You made me eat dog food.""
Brandon burst out laughing.
"You're still talking about that?""
Victoria turned toward him.
"Brandon, go upstairs.""
"But—"
"Now.""
He took the stairs two at a time.
Victoria waited until his bedroom door closed.
Then she crouched in front of me.
"Do you know what happens to children who make false accusations?""
I shook my head.
"They get taken away from their families.""
My throat tightened.
She continued.
"And do you know what happens to children who are sent away?""
I couldn't answer.
"They don't always get nice homes. Sometimes they get places where nobody wants them.""
She touched my cheek.
Her fingernails were cold.
"Is that what you want?""
I shook my head.
"Good.""
She stood up and collected the papers.
Then she walked toward the kitchen drawer and took out a lighter.
My eyes widened.
"What are you doing?""
She held the envelope over the sink.
"Cleaning up.""
"That's Dad's!""
"Your father doesn't need to see every little piece of paperwork.""
She lit the corner of the first statement.
The flame crawled across the paper.
I watched in horror.
"Stop!""
I rushed forward.
Victoria shoved me backward.
My shoulder hit the cabinet.
"Don't touch me!""
The burning paper dropped into the sink.
She turned on the faucet.
The flames disappeared.
The statements became a wet, black mess.
"Now," she said, "go upstairs.""
I stood there trembling.
"Can I call Dad?""
Victoria slowly turned around.
"Why?""
"I want to talk to him.""
"He's working.""
"I miss him.""
She picked up her phone.
"Then let's see if he has time for you.""
She dialed his number and put it on speaker.
After three rings, my father's voice filled the kitchen.
"Hey, sweetheart!""
My heart jumped.
"Dad!""
"Emily? What's wrong?""
I looked at Victoria.
She was watching me with a warning in her eyes.
"Nothing," I whispered.
Dad paused.
"Are you sure? You sound strange.""
Victoria reached for the phone.
"Daniel, she's just being emotional. She wanted to say hello.""
My father chuckled.
"That's my girl. How's school?""
I swallowed.
"Good.""
"Are you eating properly?""
My eyes moved toward Victoria.
"Yes.""
Victoria smiled.
"See? She's fine.""
Dad continued.
"I'll be home next weekend. I've got something special planned for us.""
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to tell him everything.
Instead, I whispered, "Okay.""
"Love you, sweetheart.""
"Love you too.""
The call ended.
Victoria placed the phone on the counter.
Then she turned to me.
"You see? Your father trusts me.""
I looked at her.
"He asked if I was eating.""
"And you told him yes.""
"Because you were standing there.""
Her smile disappeared.
She grabbed my school backpack and emptied it onto the kitchen floor.
Books, pencils, and notebooks scattered everywhere.
"Since you're so interested in money, you can earn your meals.""
She pointed toward the hallway.
"Clean the entire downstairs area. Then wash the dishes. And don't expect dinner.""
I spent the next three hours cleaning.
Brandon came downstairs around seven.
He walked into the kitchen holding a bowl of ice cream.
He stopped beside me.
"Mom says you're not eating tonight.""
I didn't respond.
He took a spoonful.
"Want some?""
I looked at the ice cream.
He smiled.
Then he dropped a spoonful onto the floor.
"Oops.""
He laughed and walked away.
I cleaned it up.
That night, I lay in bed listening to the rain against my window.
My phone was old, with a cracked screen and a battery that barely lasted an hour.
But it still worked.
I opened my messages.
There was one from my father.
*Dad:* Counting the days until I see you, princess. Be good for Victoria.
I stared at the message.
Then I typed:
*Me:* Dad, can I ask you something?
I waited.
The typing bubble appeared.
Then disappeared.
Finally, his response came.
*Dad:* Of course. Anything.
My fingers trembled.
*Me:* How much money do you send Victoria every month?
There was a long silence.
Then my phone rang.
It was Dad.
I answered immediately.
"Sweetheart?""
His voice sounded different.
"Why are you asking me that?""
I looked at my bedroom door.
"Because I think something is wrong.""
"What do you mean?""
Before I could answer, my bedroom door opened.
Victoria stood there.
Her eyes went straight to my phone.
"Who are you talking to?""
I couldn't speak.
She crossed the room and snatched it from my hand.
"Daniel?""
My father answered.
"Victoria? Why do you have Emily's phone?""
Victoria smiled.
"She was bothering me again.""
Then she looked directly at me.
May you like
And said something that made my blood run cold.
"Daniel, I think we need to discuss sending Emily away.""
