Then came the knock. Firm. Urgent. Lili clung to my arm as I opened the door. A police officer stood there beside our observant neighbor, Mrs. Miller. “Do you have a cat?” he asked calmly. My heart raced. “Yes,” I whispered. He took a breath and motioned gently. “You may want to sit.

” The room suddenly felt smaller. My mind imagined every possibility — had something happened? Was Marsa in trouble? All I could do was nod and step aside.