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He never replied but I saw that each text was being read almost immediately, so I figured he was busy driving.
Mere seconds after the dispatcher told me the officer was on the scene, I heard muted knocking from the front door downstairs.
Disconnecting with her, I typed out a quick
Cops are here,
to Damien and tossed the phone onto my bed before throwing open my bedroom door and rushing down the hall.
At the stairs, I gripped the railing tight to make sure I didn’t trip and fall in my haste, and I streaked across the room to unlock the regular door, deadlock, and then chain.
And I was never so glad to see a uniformed officer standing on my front steps as I was then.
“Oh, thank God,” I breathed, pulling back to let him in.
“Ma’am.” He stepped just over the threshold and stopped, already sliding his flashlight from his duty belt so he could flip it on and shine brightness into all the corners of the room. “You called about a domestic disturbance and possible home invasion?”
I shuddered, thinking it sounded wholly ominous when he said it like that.
“Yes, sir.” Already starting away, I waved for him to follow. “Can we check on Thalia first? I’m most worried about her. She hasn’t made a peep since she stopped screaming and I heard a thump on the floor.”
“That’s fine.” The light kept swinging around the room behind me as he followed me toward the stairs. “Is your electricity out?”
“No. Sorry.” I flipped on the switch at the bottom of the stairwell. “I was just in a hurry to get down here.”
It felt surreal leading him up the steps. I wanted to rush him and yellhurry, but he was methodically checking everything out as we went, and I guess that was the safest approach, so I couldn’t really complain.
“Here it is,” I said, knocking on the door when I paused in front of it. “Thalia?” I called hopefully. “The police are here.”
When absolutely no sound came from within, I glanced at the man, silently demanding help.
He stepped forward and tapped on her door with the end of his flashlight. “Ma’am?” Pausing, he glanced at me. “What’s her name again?”
“Thalia,” I said. “Thalia Archer.”
He started to turn back as if to knock again, only to pause with his mouth open. The butt of his flashlight froze midair, and he turned back to squint at me. “Come again?”
“Her name’sThalia,” I enunciated more clearly and slowly this time. “She’s actually the owner. I’m renting the second bedroom right there from her.”
When I pointed down the hall, he glanced over, only to turn back to me with a suspicious narrowing of the eyes.
It skeeved me out majorly. Hugging my arms over my chest because I suddenly remembered I was in my freaking pajamas, I unnecessarily added, “I messaged her brother, and he should be on his way now. He co-owns the brownstone with her.”
The officer shook his head slightly. “And you said her name was ThaliaArcher?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir. Do you know her?”
He blinked once before growling, “Fucking unbelievable.” Turning away slightly in disgust, he ran a hand over his hair and muttered to himself, “Damn college kids and their stupid stunts.” Whirling back to me, he snapped, “It’s a felony to prank call 911, you know that? I could arrest you for this.”
I pulled back aghast. “Wha-what are you talking about? This isn’t a prank. Iheardher scream. Just get the damn door open, and you’ll see for yourself. She’sinthere. Right now.”
“Gah,” he hissed, no longer listening to me. “I should’ve realizedthiswas the place. And it’s Friday the 13th, too. I should’ve fucking known better.”
My mouth fell open, unable to believe what I was hearing. Spreading my hands wide, I demanded, “What the hell does the date have to do with anything? Myroommate’sin trouble.” Motioning wildly, I cried, “Break the fucking door in already!”
“Hey, you need to just calm down,” he warned sternly. “Besides, I graduated from high school with Thalia. This joke isn’t funny to me. Not at all.”
“You…what?”
