“Sorry to call you in at this inveime.” Samantha Teith walked with a sense of haste Gloria never saw from her before: “And, with everything going on, Kevin’s father and I are going to stay with the kids more often, so… I wish to tell you that we probably won’t be calling you as much. But others would - I mean we have reended you to some other parents, and they may call you as well…”

  “Um, what happened?” Gloria asked, though a little disappoi the loss of future ine, she was more ed about the worried looks on Samantha’s face: “What - you look so worried. What’s troubling you?”

  “It’s - it’s uh - local safety issues. Some crimes involving - ” Samantha seemed to be having trouble saying what was on her mind: “You know, involving children. Teenagers, sometimes. We have a few gone missing, none of them was found.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Gloria couldn’t help but recall what Kevin told her st time: “I actually don’t remember seeing it on the news. you tell me what happened?”

  “We - even we don’t know what happened - or what is happening.” Samantha Teith shook her head and huffed: “None of the people living in this neighborhood knows. That’s why we have to go to two differeings tonight and - talk about anizing the local transpnts and trying to pressure the local police departments to be more transparent. If not for these meetings, we’d be staying with Kevin all night…”

  “Good, I think you are doing the right thing.” Gloria hen sighed: “How’s the local police department responding? I don’t really see a lot of police cars around here.”

  “They’re undercover now. And if there’s anything they promise they be on se within three minutes.” Samantha sighed as she opened her door for them. But then she paused after unlog the door: “And, just between you and me, I think we should be safe for now. The kids in the ‘Server Areas’, they are more at risk than any kid here. I mean, here we at least anize people to watch over them and chaperohem on their way to school. But for them? I heard they have to rely on the older kids…”

  “And not to mention the richie rich folks just let drivers go to their expensive schools where they afford 24/7 surveilnd armed security guards.” Gloria shrugged and chuckled: “Oh well.”

  “Yeah, and from what I’ve heard, even some of those rich kids have stopped going to schools. They have home tutors, so they don’t have to worry about that too much.” Samantha sighed again and opehe door.

  “Hey dear, hey Gloria.” Briah the father was ready to run out ao his car: “Hopefully the meeting won’t take too long. I’ve heard there are around fifty people ing.”

  “Only fifty?” Samantha frowned.

  “Yeah, ’t really expect everyoo be present when most of them are still w. Even if this is an emergency meeting.” Briah shrugged: “Alright, I’m off. See you soon dear. And Gloria, thank you so much for ing. I’ve double checked all of the windows and doors, they should all be closed. Don’t fet to lock them up after you open them.”

  “I remember. And I won’t open anything unless absolutely necessary.” Gloria nodded.

  “Okay, thanks.” Briah kissed his wife goodbye then started running to the car on the driveway.

  “I should be going soon.” Samantha said as she took the light brown handbag o ter, ope up to check the dots inside for o time: “Text us if you need anything, we’ll be at the meetings but we will check our phones regurly. And - uh…” She leaned in and whispered to Gloria: “Do you know how to use pepper sprays aractable batons? I think I might have asked you this before…”

  “Well - ” Gloria was surprised, but then was not: “I actually know them quite well. Spent some time in a rough neighborhood. And yes, you told me about the pepper sprays.”

  “Good, good.” Samantha zipped her handbag up and whispered again: “You know the main bedroom? We have more pepper spray and batons in the bedside table drawer. Even - even a knife, don’t let Kevin find it. There is also a of pepper spray i, hidden behind the bag of salt, you check their locations and be familiar with where they are - you know, just in case…”

  “Alright! It’s okay! We’re gonna be okay!” Gloria put her hands on Samantha’s shoulders: “I cooked in your kit before, remember? You have some really nice bone choppers and chef’s knives. We’ll be okay!”

  “Alright, alright.” Samantha took a deep breath, then took a look at Kevin, who was still on the living room couch, quietly watg TV: “Kevin! Behave tonight! Your father and I will be back soon.”

  “Bye Mom! Drive safe!” Kevin waved at his mother, eyes still fixed oV s.

  “Drive safe, and I’ll turn my phone volume up and keep it charged. So you find me anytime.” Before Samantha left, Gloria assured her.

  “Oh yeah, one more thing.” Samantha almost reached the driveway before she doubled bad said to Gloria through the gap of the door: “I left a note on the dining room table - we have the taformation from our neighborhood emergency tact team members there. If anything, call them as well.”

  “Noted. Noted. Do not worry. I’ll take good care of everything.” Gloria nodded again with a smile.

  “Okay, Gloria, we talk? ” After Gloria’s sending Samantha off, Kevin immediately turned off the TV and ged his posture on the sofa - sitting straight with a stern and serious look on his fad his arms crossed as if he was trying to act like an adult: “I think we have a serious problem.”

  “Wow, okay, geez.” Gloria couldn’t help but grin: “Okay, Mr. Kevih, what do you want to talk about, sir?”

  “It’s not a ughing matter, okay!?” Kevin shook his head, then pulled out his phone and showed Gloria a web page.

  “A total of five children are missing in a week. PCPD’s shameful ina.” Gloria read the headli loud: “Looks like it’s not news but a forum post? Why are you reading this?”

  “I’ve got to stay in touch, you know. One of the guys missing was in the same grade as me! He’s living just dowreet!” Kevin frowned and swiped on the s to pull to a lower part of the article: “He was taken from his home, when his parents were out one night!”

  “Okay. But your parents made extra sure that your house is safe.” Gloria sat by Kevin’s side.

  “This guy’s parents could have dohe same.” Kevin scoffed.

  “What about your friends? Are your friends okay? I remember you telling about your friends seeing ghost and hearing - ”

  “Yeah, they’re fihank goodness. But things are bad, and people are looking in the right dire! They’re not going to find anything!”

  “But what is the right dire? What have you heard from - you know, your friends and those websites?” Gloria let out a long sigh, then asked.

  “ you do me a favor?” Kevin did not answer, but simply retrieved his phone, slightly nervous.

  “What?”

  “ you buy some salt, some sage, some talisman paper and have them delivered to my school as a gift? Choose for in-person delivery.” Kevin looked into Gloria’s eyes: “I know the prices, I pay you with my allowance. Just - order everything and have them sent to a small store near my school.”