“How about Finding Nemo?” Abigail asked with her remote pointed at the TV undecidedly. “Little Owen loves the fish tank at his pediatrician’s office.

Suddenly, I was quite grateful that Gavin hadn’t served us fish fry that evening in light of Abigail’s film choice. We set Owen up on the floor with far more toys than a child his age could ever need. He crawled back and forth after them, rising to stand on shaky little toes a few times before plopping back down on his diapered bottom. Only occasionally did he look to the little orange fish on the screen, but each time he did, he gave us a huge gummy grin which, to me, counts Nemo among our success.

The cartoon film had just introduced us to a gnarly pod of sea turtles when my phone began to ring.

“Oh, not tonight, Dad. It’s family night!” Abigail protested.

Seeing as I was feeling mighty comfortable right where I was seated, I let the phone stay in my pocket and the call go to voicemail.

But then it rang again.

Abigail paused the movie and sighed. “Go ahead. It might be important.”

Though I hadn’t yet received a call from this number, it was one I’d saved all the same—and it belonged to none other than Harmony King.

I pressed to answer the call, but before I could even say hello, a stifled cry met my ears. “Harmony?” I asked, panic gripping my old, worried heart. “Is everything okay?”

She cried more than spoke, but still I managed to understand two very important words. “He’s here.”

I didn’t have to ask who he was. Instantly I knew that it was that same fellow she’d run so far to escape. As far as I was concerned, Danger would have been a better name for him than Alan.

“Call Nolan,” I told Abigail and Gavin. “And the police. Send them to Mrs. Clementine’s.”

They both sprung to action while I stayed on the line with Harmony.

“Where are you? Where is he?”

Her voice was a little surer now, a little easier to understand. “He’s at the front door. I ran upstairs to my room, locked the door, and am hiding under the bed.”

Good, so they had at least two locked doors between them. Still, this man had broken in on her before, and I had no doubt that he’d do it again.

“Hurry,” I mouthed to Abigail who was on the phone with the police.

“Where’s Mrs. Clementine?” Fear tightened around me like a noose. I had to make sure my old friend wasn’t also in harm’s way. I didn’t know Alan well enough to determine whether he’d stoop to hurting her, too, on his path to Harmony.

“Out,” Harmony whispered. “I don’t know where. Muffin’s with me under the bed.”

“Good, good. Stay put. The police and Nolan are on their way.”

Gavin caught my eye and shook his head. “I couldn’t get Nolan, so I left a voicemail.”