A voice crackled from Dr. Grant’s walkie-talkie. “We have the suspect in custody. Run an ambulance to our location.”

Dr. Grant walked out the front door. Mom and Mo followed her, fussing about whether we would stay or go. A few moments later, a siren blared somewhere in the distance, and I peered out the window as an ambulance sped up the drive.

A group of officers emerged from the side of the house, carrying the man I’d seen between them. He looked like he was unconscious. His body was limp, his face swollen, and a trail of spittle hung from his chin.

“What the hell happened to him?” Dr. Grant asked as the officers hoisted the man onto a gurney.

“No idea,” said an officer. “He was laid out near the tree line. He said something about being attacked, but he lost consciousness before he could tell me the rest.”

“ ‘Attacked’?” Mom asked, shooting me a glance. “He’s the one who came after my daughter.” Her fear had ebbed, and I could see the anger taking over as she shifted back on her heel and crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s lucky I didn’t catch him.”

“He got stung by something?” one of the medics asked.

“I have no clue,” said Dr. Grant. “He was out here harassing the property owners. Make sure you keep an eye on him. We’ll follow you to the hospital. Northern Dutchess?”

The paramedic nodded and the ambulance sped out of the driveway with the other officers following in their patrol cars. Dr. Grant stayed behind to take my statement. I told her exactly what happened, except for the part about the plants coming alive and snatching the man into the trees. I kept that to myself.

“What’s going to happen to him?” I asked.

Dr. Grant stepped up onto the porch. The hollows under her eyes were deep and dark. I didn’t recall her looking so dead tired the last time I saw her. “They’ll probably cite him for trespassing and possibly criminal mischief. You said he had a knife? If I can get a few of my people to go back out and find it, that would be another charge.”

“I don’t think anybody should go back out there. I mean, it’s our place now. People shouldn’t be wandering around.” I didn’t want to have to explain my reasoning in too much detail, but Mom and Mo both nodded like they agreed with me and that was good enough for now.

“We can get a restraining order against him too, if you’d like,” said Dr. Grant.

Mom tilted her head to the side. “And what are we supposed to do with a restraining order when he comes back? Throw the paper at him?”