Jessica let out one hard breath.
‘She says that about anyone who tells her no.’
Patricia’s voice rose.
‘I will not be judged by a daughter who abandoned me.’
‘You blocked me,’ Jessica said.
‘After Dad died.
After I asked why you were moving assets between accounts.’
Detective Rodriguez looked at Patricia’s phone, then at the papers.
‘Mrs.
Wells, who requested this assessment?’
Patricia folded her arms.
‘I did.
It is not illegal to research property.’
‘No,’ he said.
‘It is not.
But preparing transfer documents for a property owner who says she knew nothing about it raises questions.’
Patricia turned to Danny.
‘Are you going to let them talk to me like this after everything I have done for you?’
That was when I understood the Mercedes.
It was not a gift.
It was a leash.
Danny’s face reddened.
‘You said if I showed good faith, you’d help us with the payments.’
Sarah made a small sound.
‘Danny.’
He looked at her.
‘No.
I want to know what this is.’
Patricia’s jaw clenched.
I picked up the piggy bank and set it between us.
The four dollars rattled.
Everyone heard it.
‘This was my good faith?’ I asked.
Danny closed his eyes.
For the first time all day, shame touched him.
Detective Rodriguez scrolled through the messages.
He did not read them aloud at first.
He asked me if I gave permission for him to review the thread connected to my property.
I said yes, because the phone had already displayed enough to show my address and the report.
Then he read one line.
‘Approach after holiday meal.
Son should frame it as estate planning.’
Sarah put her hand over her mouth.
Danny whispered, ‘Who wrote that?’
The detective turned the screen.
‘It appears to be from Mrs.
Wells to the real estate contact.’
Patricia snapped, ‘That was taken out of context.’
Jessica shook her head.
‘It never is with you.’
There were more messages.
Not all of them were criminal.
Some were ordinary enough to make the rest worse.
Patricia asked for comparisons.
Patricia asked whether a small older home in a rising neighborhood would be attractive to developers.
Patricia asked if a transfer between family members could be completed quickly if the owner was elderly.
