My Family Left Me Alone on a Holiday – Until One Knock Turned the Night Upside Down

I looked up.

It was Daniel, Linda’s son.

The desk sergeant frowned.

“Because I know him, and you’ve got the wrong man.”

Behind him, more people arrived.

Not family, but neighbors. Linda, Pastor Williams from the church, Mrs. Kim, the widow I drive to her doctor’s appointments every Tuesday, and Tom from the hardware store.

There were others, too. People whose names I knew and whose lives had somehow tangled with mine.

They all started talking at once, defending me with such vehemence and fire that it took my breath away.

These people knew nothing about why I’d been arrested, but they all were so certain of my innocence that they’d come to the police station to fight for me.

The officer in charge raised his hands over the commotion. “All right, all right.

We’ve already determined that it was a case of mistaken identity. Mr. Patterson is free to go.”

The community members cheered.

We walked out together into the cold night air.

That’s when I saw them. Sarah, Michael, Emma, and Jake were in the parking lot.

“Dad!” Sarah rushed over.

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