Julie smiled. “We’re going to make it happen. I promise.” She hugged Rachel once more, and then she and Gordy hurried off to their car.
Taking a deep breath, Rachel quietly entered the kitchen and turned left to go down the hallway bypassing the living room where her mother was watching the news. There was nothing cooking for dinner. Rachel knew that meant they’d eat hot dogs or lunchmeat sandwiches—again.
Stopping a moment in the hall, she listened to the newscaster talking about another local murder.
“A third woman in the San Joaquin Valley has been found dead in her home. It’s suspected she’d been raped and murdered in the same manner as the two earlier victims. She’s identified as Edith Arlington and lived on Third Street.”
Rachel frowned. She wasn’t sure what the word rape meant, but she understood murder. Edith Arlington. That name was familiar. As she stood there thinking, she realized the woman lived only two blocks over from them and that she’d been one of the people her brother used to mow the lawn for last summer.
Suddenly, Rachel was grabbed from behind, her thread box falling to the floor. An arm was wrapped tightly around her neck, squeezing the air out of her. Frightened, Rachel struggled, pulling on the arm to get free. The attacker laughed, and she knew immediately it was her brother. She kicked her feet and pulled at his arm, but he held on tight. Rachel tried to call out to her mother, but she could barely breathe, let alone yell. She reached up behind her, her arms flailing, and made contact with his face. Her fingernails dug into his skin, and he yelped when she scratched him.
“Little bitch!” Keith yelled, choking her tighter.
“Let her go!” a deep male voice demanded.
Keith instantly let go of Rachel, and she dropped to the floor like a ragdoll. “We were just playing around,” he said.
Rachel’s father took a menacing step toward Keith. “Never touch your sister again,” he ordered.
Keith snorted. “Sister. Right.”
“Keith. That’s enough,” their father growled. Keith stared at their father warily and finally backed away and headed for his bedroom, slamming the door.
Frank Parnell squatted down and studied his daughter as she tried to catch her breath. “Are you okay?” he asked, his tone gentle.
She nodded. He helped her pick up the thread box and offered her a hand up. She was so happy to see her father that she hugged him tightly.
“Well, that’s a nice greeting,” he said, smiling at her.
She grinned back. Her father wasn’t as tall as Keith, but he was stocky, and when he got angry, he could look menacing. He could have taken out Keith with one blow, but that wasn’t her father’s way. He was a kind man and used his words, unlike her brother.
“What’s going on in there?” Judy yelled from the living room sofa. “I can’t hear the TV.”
Rachel watched her father shake his head. “Well, it looks like there’s no dinner cooking tonight. How about you and I go pick up burgers and fries for dinner?”
The little girl nodded vigorously. Going anywhere with her father was better than being at home.
Frank looked down at her box. “What’s in there?”
“String to make friendship bracelets,” she said.
“Like the one on your wrist?”
“Yeah.”
He smiled. “It’s pretty. Like you.” He winked, and Rachel’s heart jumped. Together, they headed out the kitchen door to his pick-up truck to get dinner.
***
The next day was dreary looking, and it felt like it might rain, but Rachel didn’t let that stop her. After making her bed and eating a bowl of Fruit Loops, she grabbed a juice box out of the fridge, tucking it in the small bag she carried, and headed to the park. She hoped that Amy would be there so they could make up from their argument the day before. If not, maybe Luna would join her, and they could play together.
Rachel knew her brother had left earlier that morning and would most likely be skateboarding at the park with Jeremy. Ever since he’d grabbed her last night, he’d kept his distance because their father was home. Keith knew he couldn’t get away with his usual antics while their father was around. Earlier, Rachel had caught a glimpse of Keith as he’d walked out of the bathroom, and she’d smiled to herself. The scratches she’d given his face while he was choking her were prominent. For once, she’d gotten him back for being mean to her.
It was cooler than the day before, so Rachel had slipped her faded jean jacket on over her oversized yellow T-shirt and acid-wash jeans. She’d begged her mother for days on end last Christmas for the jacket, and even though it was the only present she’d received, she’d been thrilled. Many of the girls in their school had stylish new clothes, and some wore hand-me-downs. Most of Rachel’s clothes were bought in the second-hand shop, so having a brand-new jacket was a treat.
She walked slowly along the sidewalk, praying it wouldn’t rain. Rainy days meant staying inside. It might not be too bad with her father home, but he usually spent his days working on projects in the garage. She doubted he’d have time to play a card or board game. And she never invited friends over to her house. Her mother always found a way to embarrass her in front of her friends. Rachel prayed the sky would clear up soon so she could stay at the park.
As she turned the corner at the edge of the park, she heard a car drive up alongside her and slow down. Chills ran up Rachel’s spine. She knew never to get into a stranger’s car, and she’d heard terrible stories from her mother about children being kidnapped. She quickened her pace and was about to turn to run into the park when she heard a woman
