Intruders

Carole yelped in alarm. Kieran scooted closer to me, upset. Baby Ken started crying. ‘Leave my house! All of you!’ I raised my voice, my body shaking from the outrage. How dare they scare my family like this! Roxanne gestured to the women she brought in. ‘You know what you are looking for. Turn this place upside down.’ The woman nodded and split up. Two of them headed for the master bedroom. ‘Get out!’ I blocked the woman in the front, giving her a hard shove. ‘Carole, call the police!’ The woman didn’t even budge. She shoved me right back and almost knocked me to the ground. I cut my shin on the edge of the coffee table and almost cried out in pain. Carole was frantically dialling on her phone. But before the call could be connected, two women lunged at her. One swatted the phone out of Carole’s hand and the other pinned Carole’s arms behind her back. Baby Ken’s wailing grew louder. Kieran hugged the boy close to his chest, comforting him. I could tell he was just as terrified. Roxann