“911.What’s your emergency?”
I slammed and locked the door, and Tonks started howling again as I was saying, “I’m Mabel Adams.Four four five oh County Road Ten.A woman from The Lion and The Lamb escaped.I saw her running.She was yelling for help.Send people.Send units.Whatever.They caught her.They’re taking her back.Send someone.”
“She was running?—”
“In a nightgown, in the dark, in thecold, from them,screaming.”
“Okay, ma’am, we have this outfit flagged.Officers have been dispatched.You say she was screaming for help?”
“I just stood there stupidly as she was reaching out to me.”
“You’re doing what you should be doing, ma’am.Staying safe and calling someone who can help.Are you alone?”
“M-my boyfriend is coming.I called him first.”
“Okay, that’s fine.”
It wasn’t okay.
It wasn’tfine.
Harry and his crew werefifteen minutes away.
How much of her time did I waste calling Hutch?
“Are you safe?”she asked.
“Tonks,quiet,” I ordered over her barking.
She whimpered and sniffed the door at which she’d been barking.
“Your dog is doing its job,” the 911 operator said.“I can hear you.Are you safe?”
“My boyfriend told me to lock myself in the bathroom.I’m locked in the bathroom.”
“That’s good.Stay there.Are you sure she was from The Lion and The Lamb?”
“Y-yes.She was wearing an old-fashioned nightgown.And they were definitely from there.Beards and long hair.Definitely.”
“Do you feel you’re in immediate danger?’she asked.
“No.N-no.They took her and left with her.I’m pretty sure they’re gone.I didn’t hang around to watch.”
“Right.I’m going to let you go.Keep your phone with you.Stay safe.And call back if anything else is happening.”
“Okay.”
“Stay safe.Letting you go now.”
“Bye.”
I disconnected.
I paced.
Hutch lived, at most, five minutes away.
I paced more.
