providing the grandchildren instead of me.
When I got to my house, the lights were on. I never leave any lights on. The hair on the back of my neck stood out. Instead of pulling into the garage, I parked in the driveway and called 911, staying in the car with the doors locked. I’m not stupid and I don’t take chances. When the black and white arrived, I stayed on the porch while the police officer went in to make sure it was safe.
He came out holstering his gun. “There’s no one there now, but there is a lot of damage. Let’s go in. You can tell me if anything is missing.”
When I walked through the front door, I felt like someone had stabbed me in the chest. All the couch and loveseat cushions were in the middle of the floor, slashed on both sides with a big X. Someone had turned over the end tables, and smashed the lamps. The entertainment center stood away from the wall, but the TV, stereo and DVR were still there. The kitchen looked worse, but at least there was no real damage. The cupboards all stood open. Someone had dumped all my dry goods onto the floor. They’d taken out all the drawers and upended the contents on top of the mess. Empty drawers teetered on the top of the pile and in the sink. A trail of flour, spices, and cereal crumbs led to the back door to the patio, which stood open. I stepped over the mess and went in the bathroom. All the things in the medicine cabinet were in the sink, and the tank cover lay on its side on the floor. I couldn’t bring myself to look in the bedrooms.
I told the cop, “I don’t see anything missing. I don’t have any valuable jewelry and I don’t keep money in the house so there would be nothing to steal in the bedrooms.” I just wanted to escape. He made some notes. I needed fresh air so I ran for the front door and right into Delgado. Sobbing and gasping, I instinctively threw my arms around his waist and held on.
He held me, patting my back and murmuring in my ear until I calmed down.
In spite of my distress, I couldn’t help but notice how wonderful he smelled, and how good his arms felt wrapped around me like a warm cocoon. If I could just stay there forever, everything would be all right.
When I stopped sobbing, with his arm still wrapped around me, he dug in his pocket for a handkerchief and gently wiped my eyes. He looked deep in my eyes and said, “Damn, I was afraid this would happen.”
If he had slapped me or drenched me with cold water, he couldn’t have brought me to my senses any more effectively. Embarrassed I pushed away from him and said, “I’m sorry for that. I’m fine now.”
He started to say something, but before he could, his phone rang.
When he reached for it, I turned away and ran down the steps. I dug my phone out of my purse, and called Charlene, briefly describing the situation and asking her to come get me. Not able to bear going back inside, I went and sat in my car to wait.
Delgado slipped inside the house for a moment, and then came out and squatted down beside the open car door. “Are you sure you’re all right?” His voice soft and kind, I could see the sympathy in his eyes.
Not trusting my voice, I just nodded.
Using that same soothing tone I was sure he used with all hysterical women, he said, “Do you have any idea what they were looking for?”
I squeaked out, “No.” I fought for control. I would not cry again. It was just a house. No one was hurt. After a moment I asked, “This wasn’t random vandalism was it?”
He shook his head. “No. Someone was definitely looking for something. Have you received any strange letters or packages in the last few days?”
The question took me by surprise. The mail slot was in the front door. I thought back to the mess just inside. All the mail delivered that day had been ripped open and left on the floor. Amongst all the other mess, I hadn’t really noticed until he brought it to my attention. “Just the regular bills and magazines, nothing unusual,
When I got to my house, the lights were on. I never leave any lights on. The hair on the back of my neck stood out. Instead of pulling into the garage, I parked in the driveway and called 911, staying in the car with the doors locked. I’m not stupid and I don’t take chances. When the black and white arrived, I stayed on the porch while the police officer went in to make sure it was safe.
He came out holstering his gun. “There’s no one there now, but there is a lot of damage. Let’s go in. You can tell me if anything is missing.”
When I walked through the front door, I felt like someone had stabbed me in the chest. All the couch and loveseat cushions were in the middle of the floor, slashed on both sides with a big X. Someone had turned over the end tables, and smashed the lamps. The entertainment center stood away from the wall, but the TV, stereo and DVR were still there. The kitchen looked worse, but at least there was no real damage. The cupboards all stood open. Someone had dumped all my dry goods onto the floor. They’d taken out all the drawers and upended the contents on top of the mess. Empty drawers teetered on the top of the pile and in the sink. A trail of flour, spices, and cereal crumbs led to the back door to the patio, which stood open. I stepped over the mess and went in the bathroom. All the things in the medicine cabinet were in the sink, and the tank cover lay on its side on the floor. I couldn’t bring myself to look in the bedrooms.
I told the cop, “I don’t see anything missing. I don’t have any valuable jewelry and I don’t keep money in the house so there would be nothing to steal in the bedrooms.” I just wanted to escape. He made some notes. I needed fresh air so I ran for the front door and right into Delgado. Sobbing and gasping, I instinctively threw my arms around his waist and held on.
He held me, patting my back and murmuring in my ear until I calmed down.
In spite of my distress, I couldn’t help but notice how wonderful he smelled, and how good his arms felt wrapped around me like a warm cocoon. If I could just stay there forever, everything would be all right.
When I stopped sobbing, with his arm still wrapped around me, he dug in his pocket for a handkerchief and gently wiped my eyes. He looked deep in my eyes and said, “Damn, I was afraid this would happen.”
If he had slapped me or drenched me with cold water, he couldn’t have brought me to my senses any more effectively. Embarrassed I pushed away from him and said, “I’m sorry for that. I’m fine now.”
He started to say something, but before he could, his phone rang.
When he reached for it, I turned away and ran down the steps. I dug my phone out of my purse, and called Charlene, briefly describing the situation and asking her to come get me. Not able to bear going back inside, I went and sat in my car to wait.
Delgado slipped inside the house for a moment, and then came out and squatted down beside the open car door. “Are you sure you’re all right?” His voice soft and kind, I could see the sympathy in his eyes.
Not trusting my voice, I just nodded.
Using that same soothing tone I was sure he used with all hysterical women, he said, “Do you have any idea what they were looking for?”
I squeaked out, “No.” I fought for control. I would not cry again. It was just a house. No one was hurt. After a moment I asked, “This wasn’t random vandalism was it?”
He shook his head. “No. Someone was definitely looking for something. Have you received any strange letters or packages in the last few days?”
The question took me by surprise. The mail slot was in the front door. I thought back to the mess just inside. All the mail delivered that day had been ripped open and left on the floor. Amongst all the other mess, I hadn’t really noticed until he brought it to my attention. “Just the regular bills and magazines, nothing unusual,
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