scary movies where the heroine was too stupid to live. Forget this. She’d call for help and let the police take care of her living room guest.
She eased the phone back in the cradle, counted to five and slowly lifted it out again. Never had she been happier to hear a dial tone. She slid down to the floor, hiding in the corner. She kept the knife in front of her for protection if she needed it and dialed 9–1-1.
Erin told the operator someone was in her home and gave her address. Although she whispered, in the dark stillness of the room it sounded like a shout. “Hurry, please.”
A crash sounded in the living room, followed by the sound of breaking glass, and then silence.
Had the burglar heard her on the phone? Was he going to come for her? Or had he run away?
Erin’s mind counted the seconds. Jack. Tess. She wanted to run down the hall to her family. But what if the burglar heard her and followed? No. They’d be safer if she remained in place. Waiting. Praying. Suddenly red and blue lights from the police car in her driveway poured through the windows and danced across the foyer walls. Only then did she dare leave her hiding place.
Within seconds, she opened the dead bolt and welcomed the officers inside. She flipped on lights in the foyer, living room and kitchen, seeing the scene for the first time. The two officers, with Erin trailing a healthy distance behind, walked through each room. Nothing seemed out of place or disturbed. Erin took a hurried look around and nothing appeared to be missing, either.
“Tell us again what happened, ma’am,” one of the police officers asked.
Erin pulled her robe tighter, hugging her arms around her body. “I heard a noise. Someone was in the house. I couldn’t call for help from the bedroom, so I had to sneak into the kitchen for the phone. I called 9–1-1. I think he heard me and ran off.”
The officers glanced at each other. Everyone turned at the sudden commotion in the foyer.
Tony burst through the door, flashed his badge at the officers and folded her in his arms. “Are you okay? Jack? Tess?”
She welcomed his strength and allowed herself to lean her head against his chest. “We’re fine.”
“I heard the call go out on the scanner and got here as quickly as I could.” He tilted her chin and looked into her eyes. “What happened?”
“Someone broke into the house.”
One officer had gone outside. The other stood quietly by their side.
“There are no signs of forced entry, ma’am.”
Erin could hear the sound of Tony’s heart beating beneath her ear and the strong, steady rhythm comforted her. Slowly, she lifted her face from his chest and turned her attention to the waiting officer.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“There are no signs of forced entry. Did you actually see anyone, ma’am?”
“No. I hid in the kitchen.”
“Can you tell me if anything’s missing?” The officer held a pen poised over a small notepad and waited for her response.
She stepped away from Tony and wrapped her arms around herself. “It doesn’t look like anything has been stolen. But I heard something break.”
“Are you sure, ma’am? Take a good look around. Take your time.”
Erin did as requested and shook her head.
“Maybe you frightened him off before he could do any damage,” the officer said.
“Wait,” Erin said. “My aunt’s crystal vase. That’s what broke.”
They looked at the broken pieces of crystal sticking out beneath the table cover.
Tony moved the curtains. “The window’s open. Maybe he came in here.”
“Or maybe the rustling you heard was a breeze blowing the curtains and it knocked the vase over. See. Nothing to worry about,” the officer assured her.
“Unless the wind has size twelve feet.” All three heads turned toward the second officer standing in the entranceway. “Found a footprint in the flower bed beneath that window.”
Tony had moved to the foyer. “Erin, did you open this closet door?”
“No. But I heard it squeak. I’ve been meaning to oil it and keep forgetting. I know he opened that door.”
Tony withdrew a pen from his pocket and, careful not to disturb any possible prints, he slowly eased the door open all the way.
“What’s this?”
Tony grinned and Erin moved closer to see what he found so amusing. In the bottom of the closet was an old army blanket, a flashlight, two comic books, an action figure and a half-eaten peanut butter sandwich.
“That’s Jack’s fort. He loves playing in