I went straight to the wall phone in the hall and dialed three numbers.

Officer Marcus Bell showed up sixteen minutes later, his black police cruiser rolling into the gravel driveway with no siren.

He climbed the front steps at an even pace, his eyes taking in the overgrown lawn and the stuffed mail slot.

“Major Nolan?” he asked, stepping in as I held the door.

“Thanks for getting here so quickly, Officer,” I said.

Marcus Bell rested his right hand on his heavy-duty belt while his eyes moved from the garbage on the floor to my daughter sitting on the couch.