I typed back: “Do not come home yet. He has been inside. The folder is missing. I’m calling police.”
Then I locked the back door.
I gathered the children in the living room, kept them away from the windows, and dialed 911.
The dispatcher answered.
“911. What’s the address of your emergency?”
I gave Emily’s address and explained that someone had entered the house without permission.
“I am in my daughter’s house. Three small children are here with me. He’s taken important documents.”
“Is the person still inside?”
“I don’t think so. But I’m not sure.”
“Are you somewhere safe?”
I looked toward the hallway.
Before I could answer, I heard footsteps.
Heavy, slow footsteps.
Coming from inside the house.
I turned.
Fabian was standing in the doorway.
He held the blue folder in one hand.
In the other was Noah’s small dinosaur backpack.
Fabian was my daughter’s ex-husband.
She divorced him eight months ago, after nearly nine years of marriage.
