“She begged me not to tell you. She knew you had been called into work. She didn’t want you leaving your shift because of her.”
Suddenly, I remembered what she had said that morning.
“I don’t have to go. I can stay home.”
I had thought she was being thoughtful.
She had actually been trying to escape something she was afraid of.
I should have asked why.
But there wasn’t time to blame myself.
Greta needed me.
“Show me the messages.”
Karen placed several printed screenshots in front of me.
The words weren’t direct threats.
They were quieter than that.
Cold.
Mocking.
“Nobody wants you in our cabin.”
“Can’t wait for camp. You won’t be able to hide there.”
I felt anger rise immediately.
I looked at Greta.
“None of this is your fault.”
She finally raised her eyes.
Then I turned toward Owen.
“Helping her was one thing. Promising a ten-year-old you would hide something this serious from me was another. And you started making decisions without even telling me.”
“She trusted me,” Owen said. “I didn’t want to betray that.”
“You’re not her parent.”
“I know. I just thought I could fix the immediate problem and give her time to tell you herself.”
Karen stepped in.
“I couldn’t agree to keep this from you. I’m responsible for Greta while she’s here, and you needed to know.”
Then she added,
“There’s something else. I contacted the mother of the main girl involved. She’s on her way.”
Ten minutes later, another woman walked into the office.
