Page 6 of Through the Five-Hole

“Of course.Good luck, and, Emma, do me proud.”

I’d returned to my desk and sat down to go through all the information when my phone buzzed.I grabbed it to see a message from my best friend Chantal, whom I’d known since high school.A smile came to my face as I opened our chat.

Chantal: How did the rest of the weekend go after I left on Wednesday night?

I smiled.Chantal had come over to join me for dinner and had just been getting ready to leave when Mark arrived home.Chantal was a couple’s therapist and someone I’d expressed my concerns to about my relationship with Mark.She’d listened to me and then gave me some pointers, and she’d told me she’d be following up with me today to see how things had gone.

Emma: Same as always, no change, and this morning we got into it about that stupid dinner with the Chiltons.

Chantal: Again?

Emma: Of course, again.He’s always on me about that dinner.Thinking I’ll forget.

Chantal: Did you ask him why?Like I suggested.

Emma: I did, but it doesn’t matter; he believes what he wants anyway.

Chantal: Well, we could always set up a time for the three of us to sit down and talk it through.

Emma: You know his feelings on that.

Chantal: Sadly yes, I do.I’m here if you want to talk.Anything else exciting going on?

Emma: Yep, work calls.I’ve been assigned to a high-profile case out of town.

Chantal: Oh, don’t you work only from this office?

Emma: Usually yes.Okay, I have to tell you, but it needs to stay here.

Chantal: Of course, you don’t need to worry.

Emma: It’s Colton Fox

Chantal: Um…as in the Colton Fox

Emma: Yes

Chantal: Oh Emma, are you going to be alright?

Emma: Will I be alright?Of course, I will be.

Chantal: Yeah, but…Jesus, you have…

Emma: Don’t, okay, Don’t remind me.

Chantal: Someone needs to…

Emma: Listen, I promise I’ll be okay.I’m not that little girl anymore.

Chapter Three

Colton - End of August

“I knewthis day would come, and honestly I’m amazed it wasn’t sooner.”

I was pretty sure the vein on Thompkins’ forehead was about to burst as he paced back and forth in front of me.

“I don’t understand why you are such a fuck-up!”he screamed, bringing me right back to my childhood.