“Dad, what exactly are you doing with my daughter at that hotel?”
His expression changed.
“Anna, I would never hurt Emma.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
He sat down.
“I promised I’d explain everything when the time was right.”
“What time?”
He didn’t answer.
I told him I would no longer allow Emma to go anywhere alone with him.
My father didn’t argue.
He simply stopped at the front door and said:
“Anna, sometimes what we see isn’t the whole truth.”
Those words only made me more anxious.
On Saturday morning, I had to go to work for two hours.
Emma stayed with our neighbor, Mrs. Mary.
At eleven o’clock, I called to check on my daughter.
Mary answered.
“Anna, your father came and picked Emma up. He said you knew about it.”
I nearly dropped my phone.
I immediately called my father.
No answer.
I called Emma.
Her phone was switched off.
My heart began pounding.
I got into my car and drove straight toward the beachfront hotel.
Throughout the journey, I kept repeating:
“Please, God, let my little girl be okay.”
As soon as I arrived, I hurried to the reception desk.
“Where is a man named Richard Wilson?”
The receptionist checked her computer.
“He’s in Room 214.”
“My ten-year-old daughter is with him.”
The woman hesitated.
“Yes, they went upstairs a little while ago.”
“Please call the room.”
She dialed the number.
Nobody answered.
I couldn’t wait any longer.
I rushed toward the elevator.
When I reached the second floor, I practically ran down the hallway toward Room 214.
The door was slightly open.
Then I heard my father’s voice.
“Emma, take off your shoes and go into the bathroom. I’ll be there soon.”
My blood ran cold.
Then I heard my daughter.