Hearing her mother's words, Mary looked around at the deserted surroundings and felt a little safer. At least, she was not alone right now.
Mary listened quietly and occasionally responded. After a while, a black car drove up from downstairs.
Mary instantly became alert and whispered back, "Mom, someone's here. I'm hanging up."
After hanging up, she switched her phone to the alarm mode and placed it behind her. With the box in her other hand, she stood vigilantly in front of the window.
The newcomers came up quickly, but there was only one of them. Mary peeked down. The car was parked below. No one else had come out.
In other words, these people might not have brought her brother over. Or he might be still in the car.
The person who came up was wrapped up in tight clothing. He wore a hat, glasses, mask, and other things. Mary could not tell who he was at all.