A note from the delivery man prompted me to install security cameras in my house – I will be forever grateful to him
My heart was racing as I tried to stay calm for my children. « Why don’t you wash up while I’m getting everything ready? » I suggested sending them out of the kitchen. When they were gone, I ran to the backyard with Ravi’s message echoing in my head. I approached the trash cans, my hands shaking as I lifted the lid of the first one. Nothing out of the ordinary, just our usual garbage. But when I opened the second can, I froze. Inside, wrapped in an old blanket, was a collection of gloves, a few small tools, and an unlabeled bottle filled with a mysterious liquid. Panic flashed through me.
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« Mom? Are you okay? » Isla’s voice frightened me. I quickly closed the lid and turned to her with a forced smile.
« I’m fine, sweetie. I’m just checking something. Go in, I’ll be right there. »
As soon as Isla was out of sight, I called the sheriff’s office.
« Sheriff’s Department, hier spricht Leona. »
« Leona, it’s Nora. I want you to come by right away. I found something disturbing in my trash. »
Leona’s voice became serious as I described the contents of the can. « Don’t touch anything. I’m on my way. Stay inside with the kids until I get there. »
After I hung up, I couldn’t shake off the fear. In our neighborhood, there have recently been a number of burglaries using eerily similar methods — chemicals to weaken locks and meticulous cleaning of evidence. A scary thought flashed through my head: My house was next on the list.
« Mom, what’s going on? » Kai asked when he noticed my discomfort.
« Everything is fine, » I reassured him, though my smile felt forced. « Let’s have dinner. »
Just as we started to eat, there was a knock on the door. I tensed up, but relief came over me when I saw Leona through the peephole.
« Children, stay here and get dinner ready, » I said before stepping outside to talk to her. I explained everything to Leona—Ravi’s note, his strange behavior, and what I had found in the trash. She listened attentively and searched the street.
« You did the right thing when you called me, » she said. « I’ll look at what you’ve found and have it analyzed. In the meantime, I strongly recommend that you increase your security. We will patrol the area all night. »
