I grabbed her arm. “Is it a baby? Is she okay? Mom?” My heart sank. I couldn’t imagine why someone would leave a baby on our front porch.
Courtney took me by the shoulders. “Liza, there is no baby. Honey, look at me. I need you to get upstairs and lock your bedroom door until the police get here.”
I shook my head. “No, Court. Tell me what’s going on. Please!”
My mom had walked outside, holding the gun up. I screamed out for her. “Mom!” I looked back at Courtney and used all my might to push her off of me as I made my way out the door. The moment I stepped past the threshold, I sucked in a breath. Every hair on my body stood up as I looked down.
“Wh—why…who…” I couldn’t breathe as I read the words painted in blood red across my porch.
.
The sound of a baby crying started again and I jumped, screaming. My mother covered a finger with the hem of her shirt as she pushed stop on an old recording device. My eyes darted around.
Keith. Oh my God. He knows where I live.
My mother stepped over the painted words and took me by the arm, leading me back inside. I frantically looked all over and cried, “He’s out there! Mom, he’s still out there!”
“Shh, baby, it’s all right. Let’s sit down. You need to calm down.”
I could hear Courtney on the phone with the police. I started looking for my phone.
“Walker. I need Walker. I have to talk to Walker,” I said as I cried.
My mother grabbed my hands. “Liza, I need you to calm down. Take a deep breath.”
Courtney shut the front door and went into the living room as she talked to the police.
I tried to focus on my mom. I tried to calm down. But all I could picture was Keith, outside my home. On my porch.
Walker. I need Walker.
I SAT ON the sofa with my legs pulled up, my chin resting on my knees. I sighed as the police officer asked question after question. I grabbed my phone and called Walker again. I’d been trying to call him for an hour. I wiped away the tear that crawled down my face.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked to see Courtney sitting next to me. She handed me a mug filled with hot tea. I sipped it as I listened the officer finishing up with my mother. They both stood and my mother shook his hand.
He turned and looked down a
t me. “We’ll get this guy, Ms. Morris.”
I smiled weakly as I nodded my head.
My mother walked the police officer to the door and spoke a bit more. Closing my eyes, I fought back the tears. When I heard my brother Jase’s voice, I jumped up and ran to him. He took me in his arms and held me as I finally let the flood of tears go.
“It’s okay, pumpkin. I’m here. Shh, I’m here.”
“Jase, he was here. He was here at my house,” I sobbed into his chest.
Jase held me tighter and I instantly felt better.
“Mom, I’m taking y’all to our house tonight. I called a few buddies who are going to come out, too.” He lifted my chin. “Go pack a bag, pumpkin. We’re going home.”
I nodded and started to make my way upstairs. But I stopped and turned around. My mother was already walking behind me. I tried to smile, but failed. She linked her arm with mine as we continued up the stairs. We quickly packed a bag and I jumped when my cell phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket and cried when I saw Walker’s name.
My hands trembled as I barely got his name past my lips.
I WAS SHOCKED listening to Liza try to tell me what had happened. She was crying so hard that Whitley ended up taking the phone and telling me everything. I ran my hand through my hair and fought like hell to keep my emotions at bay.
“Whitley, I’m heading to the airport right now,” I said.