What’s happening?” There was more shouting, and then a loud crash, something metal, and my son’s voice again underneath it, and I was on my feet with my heart slamming against my ribs, saying his name into the phone, louder and louder.

“Caleb!

Sal, what is happening down there?”

Sal came back on the line, and he was breathing hard now, the gentleness gone, replaced by something urgent.

“Ma’am,” he said, “you need to come down here.

To the diner.

Right now.” “What happened?” I was already grabbing my keys.

“Sal, tell me what happened!” And Sal said the words that stopped my heart entirely.