Chapter Seven-Snow Days
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Rinoa had carefully avoided her father for the past three days. It was easy enough since he was hardly ever around. Rinoa thought she had gotten off scot-free.
And then, one day when she came home from school, Rinoa was surprised to see Jake at home waiting for her. He was pale from lack of sleep, but his face was determined.
Not one to beat around the bush, Jake said straight off, "Rinoa, you've been avoiding me. What's this about?'
"Avoiding you? I haven't been avoiding you. I've just been busy."
"Of course. Sit down."
"Dad, I have a lot of homework," Rinoa started.
"Sit!" her father repeated more firmly. Rinoa sat. "Good. Now what is the matter?"
It just boiled Rinoa's anger that he felt he could control her that way. Before she could stop herself, the words just popped out of her mouth, "YOU KILLED HER!"
Whatever color remained in Jake's face left it. "What are you talking about?"
"YOU KILLED MY MOM!"
"I-It's not something I planned to do-"Jake began.
"YES YOU DID! I HEARD YOUR TALK ON THE PHONE! YOU HIRED SOMEONE! YOU DIDN'T EVEN CARE THAT I WAS THERE TOO!" Rinoa was sobbing uncontrollably now.
Jake's eyes narrowed in anger as he made his final attempt to calm her, "Rinoa, you must understand, I had no choice. I loved your mother. And I love you. I don't want to hurt you."
"YES YOU DO! I KNOW YOU DO! I'M GOING STRAIGHT TO THE COPS! I'LL TELL THEM EVERYTHING! THEN THEY'LL PUT YOU AWAY FOREVER LIKE YOU DESERVE!"
"Rinoa, it's snowing too hard outside. You cannot leave."
"Yes I can, yes I can, yes I can!" Rinoa cried hysterically.
Grabbing a tin coffee pot from off the table, Jake told Rinoa, "I'm sorry," then hit her over the head.
Jake dragged Rinoa into her room and locked her in. Snow was falling softly outside.