Maybe she’d just made everything worse.
She stared at the cracked phone.
Then it buzzed.
I’m coming.
Emily’s heart stopped.
She immediately typed back.
Who are you?
The reply came.
Someone who doesn’t want a hungry child going to sleep tonight.
Emily frowned.
That didn’t make her feel safer.
She typed:
I don’t know you.
Three dots appeared.
I know.
Another message followed.
That’s why I’m asking you not to open the door for me.
Emily stared at the words.
Then another message arrived.
When I get there, I’ll leave groceries outside. You don’t have to talk to me.
She swallowed.
That sounded less frightening.
But there was still a problem.
She didn’t know when her mother would return.
She didn’t know if she should tell her.
She didn’t know if this stranger was dangerous.
And she definitely didn’t know that a black SUV had just turned onto her street.
