Lost Read Online Free PDF Page B

patio.
    “Oh my god!” I
shrieked when I saw the pile of fur and blood. I covered my mouth as if by
doing so I could block out the horror that lay on the ground.
    “Ugh! This cat
looks like it was torn apart.” Sam looked it over and moved to the other side.
“This wasn’t here earlier, was it, Mom?”
    “Of course not!
We wouldn’t have sat outside if it had been. What did that?”
    Sam shrugged.
“I don’t know. Should we call someone?”
    I looked out
into the dark yard. “Come inside. It was just put there.” I suddenly felt an
urgent need to yank Sam inside and lock the door. I wasn’t one to deny my
instinct. “Sam get inside... now!”
    Sam heard the
urgency in my voice and hurried inside. Once he was safe inside, I closed the
door and locked it.
    “I’m going to
call the police, just to be safe. Go check on your brothers and sisters.” I ran
to the phone and dialed 9-1-1. Not once did I stop and think I was
overreacting. Something had put that poor animal on my patio. Something, or
someone had climbed an 8 foot fence or had opened the lock on the gate to bring
that to my doorstep. I wasn’t going to take any chances.
    “9-1-1. What is
your emergency?” The faceless operator answered.
    “Someone or
something put a dead animal on my back porch. I was just outside with friends
ten minutes ago, so this just happened!” I exclaimed.
    “Okay, ma’am.
Can you verify the address from which you are calling?”
    I promptly
provided our address.
    “Everyone’s
fine, Mom. Asleep, no one heard anything.” Sam whispered to me as he came back
into the kitchen.
    The operator
continued, “Alright. I’ve dispatched a nearby squad car to your location. Can
you stay on the line with me until they arrive at your address?”
    I agreed to
stay on the line, and Sam I only had to wait a few minutes before we heard
knocking at the front door.
    “I think
they’re here. I’m going to send my son to open the door.” I said this to the
operator, as I was nodding toward the door, indicating to Sam that he should go
answer it.
    “What’s going
on?” Carey came into the kitchen with Jimmy close on his heels, “Who’s at the—”
    “Why are the
cops here?” Jimmy asked talking right over Carey.
    Sam followed
two young officers into the kitchen. I acknowledged the officers’ arrival to
the operator and hung up.
    “Ma’am? Can you
show us the animal?” One of the officers asked.
    “I’ll show you.
I found it.” Sam answered before I could say anything. He moved in front of the
officers and opened the back door.
    “Julie?” I
heard Bee call from the living room.
    I ran out to
the living room and saw Bee and Anthony standing there. Bee was still dressed
in her jeans and T-shirt, but Anthony had on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pants, and a Batman T-shirt. I stopped and stared.
    “Hey! It’s what
I sleep in, give me a break!” He must have noticed me eyeing his outfit.
    Bee rushed over
and gave me a hug.
    “What’s wrong?
I saw the police pull up when I took Pansy out.” Pansy was her Yorkshire
Terrier, and Bee always took her out at night before bed.
    “Are the kids
okay?” Anthony, normally such a quiet man, asked me with uncertainty in his
voice. I could see him scanning the room.
    I was shaking,
and I let my friend hold me. “They’re okay. I don’t know what it is! Sam and I
were talking, and then he went out to get the blender for me. Next thing I
know, he says... he’s telling me that he thinks there is a dead cat on our
patio. Bee, if this was a cat, it... it was torn to shreds. I don’t even know
what could have done that.”
    “Oh my lord.”
Bee shook her head and gave me another hug. “Sam didn’t see anyone? Hear
anything?”
    “I don’t think
so.”
    Anthony went
into the kitchen and stood with Carey and Jimmy as Sam talked to the police.
    “Honey, are you
sure you’re okay?” Bee was concerned, and I took deep breaths trying to stop my
heart from beating so fast.
    “I’m