The siren was getting closer, turning off the main highway onto my road.

“This isn’t over, Madeline!” he yelled, his voice rising in panic.

“It is for you,” I said.

He looked at the security camera one last time.

The infrared light caught the sheer terror in his eyes.

“She’s going to kill me,” he muttered, almost to himself.

He didn’t mean me.

He turned and ran, dropping the crowbar onto the concrete patio with a sharp clatter.

He sprinted across the lawn and disappeared into the thick shadows of the woods behind my property.

Within thirty seconds, the red and blue lights of a patrol car washed over my front windows.

I set the heavy brass flashlight on the counter.

My palms were slick with sweat.

I walked to the front door, disarmed the security panel, and opened it.

Officer Cho was already walking up the path, his flashlight beam cutting through the damp night air.

“Madeline,” he said, taking in my appearance. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine,” I said. “He’s gone into the woods behind the house.”

“Who was it?” Cho asked.