The voice on the cassette sounded exhausted and terrified. Margaret explained that she had received telephone calls from someone claiming to be herself. The caller always knew where she was and what she was doing. Sometimes the voice warned her about things that happened minutes later. Then the recording ended with three soft knocks. Emily immediately turned toward the bedroom door. We had heard those same three knocks the previous night. Before either of us could speak, my phone rang. It was the county dispatcher, and his first words made my heart race.

He explained that another emergency call had just come from my address. This time, the woman had said, “Please don’t let her open the bedroom window. She doesn’t know who is standing outside.” Then the call disconnected. I looked toward the upstairs hallway and noticed that the bedroom curtains were moving, although every window was closed. Emily grabbed my hand. Suddenly, the old telephone downstairs began ringing. We hadn’t used that landline in years. When I answered, I heard my own voice whispering, “Mom, please don’t let me in.” Emily was standing directly beside me.