Protector - Laurel Dewey [183]
“Goddamnit!” Jane screamed in frustration, pulling on the door.
“Let me try!” Dan offered, doing his best to jerk open the door.
“Emily!” Jane yelled into the door. “It’s okay! It’s okay!”
Heather whispered “Emily?” to the girl standing next to her.
Dan continued to pull with all his strength but the door was frozen shut. Jane spelled him while Emily’s terrified shrieks continued to reverberate inside the closet. “Fuck this door!” Jane slammed her hand against the door. “Who put her in here?” No one said a word. “Who did it?” Jane yelled, yanking with every last bit of energy.
“It’s starting to budge!” Dan announced. He took over and with one final pull, the door swung open.
Jane saw Emily cowering against the back wall of the closet, screaming and holding her hands out to ward off what she thought was an oncoming intruder. “Get away from me!” Emily screamed as Jane moved toward her.
“Emily! It’s me! It’s alright!” Jane said, trying to grab onto the child.
Emily flailed her arms in the air, several times making contact with Jane’s body, in an attempt to keep her away. “No! I saw you!” Emily shrieked. “I saw you what you did! Get away! Get away!!”
Jane was able to gently subdue the terrified child. “Emily! It’s me! You’re safe!”
Emily felt Jane’s heart beat against her chest and finally realized where she was and who was holding her. Her screaming stopped, replaced by hyperventilation. Within seconds, Emily’s body started to shake uncontrollably as she went into convulsive sobs. Jane held tightly onto the child, all too aware of what was happening.
Dan ducked into the closet, kneeling down next to Jane and Emily. “Sweetheart,” Dan said softly, stroking Emily’s head, “it’s okay. You’re alright.”
“Hey, look,” Heather said quietly in the background. “She peed all over herself.” Jane felt her blood boil as she kept a tight grip on Emily. “That is so gross!” Heather said in a hushed, mocking tone.
Jane held even tighter onto Emily. Emily lost control of her bladder again.
“Darlin’, it’s alright,” Dan assured Emily in a tender voice. “Your mom’s right here, sweetie.”
“That’s not her mother,” Heather said in full voice.
Jane’s stomach tightened. Her emotions raced between outrage and fear of being discovered by a boorish ten-year-old girl. She placed Emily into Dan’s arms, stood up and turned around to face the girls. Jane stared at Heather. “You did this to her, didn’t you?” Heather remained silent, staring down Jane like a gunfighter. “Answer me!”
Dan looked up at Jane, sensing an imminent explosion. “Jane?”
“If you’re not her mother, who are you?” Heather asked, refusing to be cowed. “If her name is Patty, how come you’re calling her Emily? And if your name is—”
Jane lunged toward Heather. “What the fuck’s wrong with you?” The girls spread out down the hallway. Jane was only inches away from grabbing Heather’s neck when Dan yanked her backward and away from the kid.
“Jane!” Dan screamed. “Let it go! Let it go!”
“She wanted the dance trophy, Mrs. Calver!” Mary piped up.
“Shut up, Mary!” Heather shrieked.
“She locked Emily in the closet and made me steal the trophy out of Patty’s . . . Emily’s bedroom!” Mary continued, determined to spill the beans but feeling as confused as the rest of them. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Calver! I didn’t want to do it. I put it in Heather’s duffel bag, just like she told me to!” Mary turned to Emily. “And don’t worry about wetting your pants. Sometimes I do it, too.” Mary looked at Heather. “So there!”
Jane was disgusted with everything she was hearing. She turned to Dan. “Get these brats out of here.” Jane lifted Emily from the closet and carried her into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. Emily clung tightly to Jane as she placed her on the closed toilet seat. The child was still shaking and breathing