Chapter 3 - I’ve got you
The gate key was in Mara’s trouser pocket.
She refused to hand it over.
So I called 911.
Right there.
I put my fingers through the bars.
Olivia grabbed them.
“I’ve got you.”
She was shaking.
Not violently.
Not hypothermic.
Scared.
Daniel got up.
“Are you seriously calling police?”
“Yes.”
“Over a timeout?”
“Yes.”
Mara said:
“This is exactly the problem.”
I looked at her.
“What problem?”
“You.”
That answer became important.
Police arrived eleven minutes later.
By then Mara had unlocked the gate.
Interesting timing.
Olivia came straight to me.
Daniel said:
“She’s reinforcing his behavior.”
The officer asked:
“Whose behavior?”
Daniel pointed at Olivia.
“She becomes hysterical around him.”
The officer looked down at the three-year-old clutching my trouser leg.
May you like
Then back at Daniel.
I saw doubt enter his face.
