Chapter 5: Locked In and Alone

My wife was already freaking out: “Babe, did you see? Someone’s trying to get in. Does he know I’m home? What should I do? Ellie’s here too!”

Me: “I’m calling management—no one’s answering. Listen to me: just stay put, okay? I’m almost home. Don’t answer the door for anyone. Wait for the cops. I’ll keep trying to contact management!”

Wife: “I called them too—called earlier. Are they off for the night?”

Management hadn’t answered since before!

I messaged the building manager, but ever since I complained about my parking spot being taken, he’d blocked me.

The more urgent the situation, the more my mind raced. I forced myself to calm down and rushed home as fast as I could, the car’s blinker ticking, rain drumming on the windshield, keys jingling in my lap.

Just past a red light, my wife messaged: “I got through to management! They said they’ll send someone up right away!”

I was surprised: “How did you get through?”

My wife sent a photo of a receipt: “Remember when the chandelier broke and management came to fix it? There’s a phone number on the receipt—it works.”

So I called the number on the receipt.

After two rings, a bored-sounding staff member answered: “Hello?”

I knew this wasn’t the time to argue about being blocked.

I identified myself and asked when they’d go up to check.

He brushed me off: “Oh, that, yeah, I saw it online—people love to stir the pot. It’s just jokes.”

I couldn’t help but say: “Man, I’m asking: did you send someone up? My wife and daughter are home alone. I’m worried something might happen.”

He sighed: “Oh, you’re not at home?”

I heard him mutter to someone nearby: “Go check—this family’s always making trouble.”

Then he said: “My coworker’s already gone up. I’ll let you know if there’s any news.”