Police - what? She heard no sirens. Maybe they hadn't used it. She looked at Charlie who had returned to sniffing at the bottom of the door. Oh, duh, Tommy. She backed up and dropped to her knees trying to peek under the doorway.

Well, that didn't help her at all. Stupid floor mat.

"Just a - second!" she called back and called Charlie away from the door. The dog gave a defiant growl and followed Tom as she skipped quickly into the living room and peeked into the windows. She didn't see - anything. Not a car, a broken window or two. A hobo, a drunk. No cars.

Tom jumped back up on the floor and walked back over to the door.

"What's going on?" she asked and reached for the dead bolt, giving it a click. Charlie burst into a fit of loud barks as she did, startling Tom.

"Charlie, shit!"