I called the sheriff immediately, and they warned me not to touch anything and to stay inside with the kids. They later told me the bottle contained a corrosive used to weaken locks and that our home was likely targeted in a string of break-ins. By early morning, I was pleading with a security company to install cameras, and thankfully, they came the same day. The cameras made me feel safer, though I was still shaken.

When Ravi returned, I caught him before he left the neighborhood. Terrified, he confessed, “I saw two guys messing with your trash and didn’t know what to do.” That quick note saved my family. Thanks to Ravi’s courage and the sheriff’s swift response, we avoided a nightmare. I’ve learned to trust my instincts—and never ignore a cryptic warning, even one written on a takeout bag.