Chapter 6: “She Told Me to Do It”
No one spoke.
The evening air felt heavy.
Every eye was fixed on Derek.
Officer Brooks held the envelope firmly in one hand.
"What did you just say?"
Derek stared at the ground.
His shoulders sagged.
"I said..."
"I didn't come up with this plan."
My mother stepped forward so quickly she nearly stumbled.
"Don't listen to him."
"He's confused."
Officer Brooks raised his hand.
"Ma'am."
"Please let him answer."
She stopped.
Her face tightened.
Derek let out a long breath.
"I never wanted any part of this."
I looked at him in disbelief.
"Then why were you running?"
"Because I knew how this looked."
"It looks like you're stealing my house."
"I know."
"Then explain."
He rubbed both hands over his face.
"Aunt Judith asked me to keep the papers."
"She said she didn't want them lying around the house."
My mother's eyes widened.
"That's a lie."
Derek shook his head.
"No."
"You handed me the envelope this morning."
"You said to keep it hidden until Colin went back to work."
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Aunt Gloria slowly turned toward my mother.
"Judith..."
"Tell me that isn't true."
My mother laughed nervously.
"Of course it isn't."
"He's trying to blame me."
Officer Brooks remained expressionless.
"Mr. Derek."
"When exactly did she give you the envelope?"
"This morning."
"Right before everyone arrived."
"What did she tell you?"
Derek swallowed.
"She said..."
He hesitated.
Officer Brooks waited patiently.
"Go on."
"She said the paperwork would make sure the house stayed in the family."
I felt sick.
"The house is already in the family."
He nodded.
"I know."
"But she said..."
"She said Evelyn couldn't be trusted."
My head snapped toward my mother.
"You said that?"
She crossed her arms.
"I was protecting you."
"From my wife?"
"Yes."
Evelyn stood frozen beside the front porch.
She looked like she had expected cruelty.
But not this.
My mother pointed directly at her.
"She married you for your money."
Evelyn didn't respond.
She didn't have to.
I knew the truth.
When we met, I wasn't making much more than minimum wage.
She stayed with me through every promotion.
Every layoff.
Every setback.
She had never asked for expensive jewelry.
Never demanded vacations.
Never once complained about my long hours.
If anyone had sacrificed for our family...
It was Evelyn.
"You've hated her since our wedding."
I said quietly.
My mother's jaw tightened.
"I saw through her."
"No."
"You refused to."
Officer Brooks looked down at the documents again.
"Mr. Ashford."
"I need to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"Have you ever discussed transferring ownership of your home to your mother?"
"Never."
"Have you signed any paperwork related to your property during the past year?"
"No."
"Have you given anyone permission to sign on your behalf?"
"Absolutely not."
He nodded.
Then he turned to my mother.
"Ma'am."
"Would you be willing to answer a few questions?"
She folded her arms.
"I don't have to."
"You're correct."
"But refusing to answer may become important later."
She didn't say another word.
Officer Brooks carefully separated the stack of papers.
Several pages slipped onto the patio table.
One of them caught my attention.
It wasn't part of the deed.
It looked like a bank statement.
I frowned.
"Wait."
"Can I see that?"
The officer glanced at the page.
"If it belongs to you."
He handed it over.
I recognized the account number immediately.
It was the checking account I had opened years earlier.
The account I used to send my mother thirty-five hundred dollars every month.
My eyes scanned the transactions.
Withdrawal.
Withdrawal.
Withdrawal.
Cash.
Cash.
Cash.
Almost every deposit disappeared within forty-eight hours.
No grocery stores.
No pharmacies.
No baby supply stores.
No utility companies.
No payments that looked anything like household expenses.
Just thousands of dollars withdrawn in cash.
Month after month.
Year after year.
My hands began to shake.
I looked up at my mother.
"Where did the money go?"
She remained silent.
I asked again.
"Where."
"Did."
"The money."
"Go?"
Still nothing.
Then Aunt Gloria spoke softly.
"Judith..."
"I thought you said Colin wasn't helping."
My mother turned sharply.
"What?"
"You told us he barely sent enough money to cover groceries."
Several relatives nodded.
"I remember that."
"So do I."
"You said you were paying most of the bills yourself."
The color drained from my mother's face.
One lie had become ten.
Ten lies had become a hundred.
And now...
They were collapsing in front of everyone she had tried to impress.
Officer Brooks looked at the bank statement.
Then back at my mother.
"Ma'am."
"I think we're going to need a much longer conversation."
May you like
For the first time all day...
Judith Ashford looked genuinely afraid.
