Betrayal by Fern Michaels Page B

the sheriff, and who knew who else they’d told. And Emily knew as well as she knew her name that Sara was making up every detail she’d shared with their parents.
    Sara had an appointment with Dr. Chambers tomorrow morning. Dr. Chambers was Emily’s best friend’s mom, who just happened to be a child shrink. Maybe she would ask Amy to snoop into her mother’s files and see what Sara was really up to. Sara should’ve been sent to Dr. Chambers a long time ago.
    She wanted to call Aunt Kate, but her parents had forbidden that. However, they couldn’t watch her all the time. She jumped off the bed and went to the piggy bank she had stashed in her bottom drawer. She dumped its contents on top of the bed. Nine dollars and seventy-three cents. That should be enough to make a long-distance call. Without a second thought, Emily hurried to the kitchen. It’d been a while since she’d ridden her bike. That might make her parents suspicious, but she’d deal with that if they caught her.
    She went to the garage through the side door off the kitchen. Her red Schwinn lay against the wall farthest from the door. Good, she thought. She pushed the button on the wall to open the electric garage door. It wasn’t real noisy. If her parents were still lounging by the pool, they’d never hear a thing.
    Hurrying, Emily jumped on her bike. Pedaling as fast as she could, she veered around the huge potted plants at the end of the driveway. Once she was out of sight of her house, she slowed down. There was a Circle K convenience store a mile or two down the road. She would make a quick phone call, then be on her way. More than likely, she’d be back in her room before her parents even realized she was gone.
    Twenty minutes later, she cruised through the store’s parking lot over to the pay phone at the side of the building. She read the instructions at the base of the phone just to make sure she didn’t screw up and lose her money. An automated voice came on the line instructing her to put $2.25 into the change slots. She did, then a few seconds later, Aunt Kate’s phone was ringing.
    â€œHello.”
    â€œAunt Kate, it’s me.” Emily’s hands were shaking. For a second she felt like she was betraying her family, but the feeling left as fast as it came. She was saving a man’s life.
    â€œEmily? Why are you calling here?”
    â€œI’m so sorry, Aunt Kate. I know what Sara did.” Embarrassed, Emily’s eyes filled with tears. She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one saw her bawling. She’d die if someone she knew saw her.
    â€œIt’s not your fault. We know that, sweetie.”
    â€œI just want to help. They’ve got an appointment for Sara tomorrow. It’s Dr. Chambers. She’s a psychiatrist. Mom said she would go to court and testify on Sara’s behalf. I don’t know what to do, Aunt Kate. This is all so terrible.” Emily let her tears flow freely, suddenly not caring who saw her.
    â€œThis isn’t something for you to worry about. Uncle Alex and I will be just fine. We’ll get through this.”
    â€œAnd I’ll never get to see you all again!” Emily’s sobs were loud. Her nose was running. She used the hem of her shirt to wipe it with.
    â€œWe don’t know that, Em. We just have to be patient, see how this works out.”
    Emily nodded, then remembered she was on the phone. “I know. I just hate the thought of what this is doing to you guys. I think Sara is a mean, lying, conniving little asshole, in case you want to know.”
    Kate’s laughter sounded forced. “Thanks, kiddo. It really means a lot that you believe in Alex. I’ll tell him you called.”
    The automated voice came over the line telling Emily to either deposit another $1.25 for the next minute or the call would end.
    â€œBye, Aunt Kate. I love you!” The line went dead, but Emily was sure Kate