call had apparently come from inside my house.The dispatcher asked whether anyone else lived with me. When I said I was alone, he instructed me to remain in my bedroom until officers arrived. The scratching had stopped, but the silence made everything feel even more frightening.
Minutes later, a police vehicle pulled up outside. After three knocks, the dispatcher confirmed the officers were there. I put on my robe and hurried downstairs, keeping my phone pressed against my ear.
Two officers stood on the porch. The older one asked
