"Go away, I called the police!"
“You did what? Open the door!” I heard a familiar angry voice boom from the other side of the door. I was too terrified to move so I sat there on my knees, clutching my phone and wishing the police would hurry.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked in a gut-wrenching sob.
“Doing what? Open the door!” He continued pounding on the door until a crack split the wood. I jumped and began screaming at the top of my lungs.
“Leave me alone, please!” Keiran had almost succeeded breaking the door down when I heard additional footsteps running up the stairs.
“Police!” I heard the voices on the other side of the door instructing Keiran to place his hands up.
“Ma'am, it's Officer Reynolds and my partner, Officer Burkes. You can open the door now. We have him restrained.”
I sat there numb for a minute before I finally stood to my feet and opened the door. An officer was standing on the other side. He looked familiar somehow but I couldn't place him. The other officer was leading away a handcuffed Keiran, who was silent as he was taken downstairs.
“Are you okay, did he hurt you?” Officer Reynolds asked.
I found it hard to speak so I shook my head. “We need you to come down to make a statement. Do you have someone you can call?”
“My aunt is out of town but I can call my best friend. Can it wait till morning, Officer? I can't do this now.”
He hesitated before asking, “How old are you?”
“Eighteen.” He nodded before leaving. I sat back on the floor once they were gone and cried until I had nothing left.
*
Pepé was curled comfortably in my lap as I sat in Willow’s bedroom staring out the window. He must have sensed something was wrong because he hasn't left my lap since I got here. He was usually finding places to conquer and items to steal. I was pretty sure he already ran off with my keys as usual, before he came back to cuddle with me. He was probably ensuring I wouldn't search for them, which was the reason for his unusual cuddling.
“Are you going to tell me what is wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost or something.”
I took a deep breath before answering. “Keiran broke into my house and –”
“Oh my gosh! What? Where you there? Are you okay? Say something!” Willow had jumped off her bed and ran over to me shaking my shoulder.
“Willow, I'm okay for now but I won’t be if you keep shaking me. You'll give me whiplash.” She looked apologetic before releasing me.
“Sorry. I knew something was up between you two. It wasn’t adding up and by the way I didn’t buy that, ‘I don’t want to be friends with you bullshit’ for a second, but tell Keiran I said “nice try”.
“Willow, about that, I’m sorry I –”
“Don’t worry about it. I figured the only way I could help you now was to play along until you talked to me. So, what happened?” I ran down the story ending with the police arresting Keiran. “Wait…you said you were on the stairs when you heard the phone ring?” She was frowning now and I figured she was just upset.
“Yeah, what –”
“And you already saw the light cut off and footsteps downstairs before your phone rang?”
Yes. Willow –” She interrupted again holding up her hand to silence me.
“When you reached your room and grabbed the phone, I was the missed call?”
“Yes,” I stated simply knowing she didn't expect more than that.
“The only missed call?” I nodded this time, not bothering to say anything.
“It couldn't have been him.” I gave her a puzzled look and she explained. “Lake, I passed Keiran coming home from work. I stayed late to help with inventory.”