Chapter 3 - THE KITCHEN REFUGE
Ten-year-old Lily stood frozen by the stainless-steel sink, her pale yellow t-shirt damp with dishwater and sweat.
On her back, strapped securely inside the grey baby carrier, the infant whimpered softly with tear-streaked cheeks.
Mark dropped to his knees right in front of his daughter, his eyes shining with unshed tears of profound guilt.
"Lily... baby, I am so sorry I wasn't here," Mark choked out, gently untying the baby carrier straps.
Lily threw her arms around her father’s neck, burying her face into his light grey dress shirt as she sobbed.
"She wouldn't let me stop washing, Daddy... and baby brother wouldn't stop crying," Lily whispered through her tears.
Mark lifted the crying infant out of the carrier, holding both of his children close against his broad chest.
"You never have to wash another dish again, sweetheart... it's over, I promise you," Mark vowed fiercely.
An officer walked into the kitchen, holding the wooden cooking spoon Elena had used to terrorize the young girl.
"We found this on the kitchen counter, Mr. Cole... forensics will bag it for the evidentiary report," the officer noted.
May you like
Mark nodded grimly, kissing the top of Lily's light brown hair while breathing in the scent of her shampoo.
***
