“Sit down.”
Sandra pulled back.
“I was reimbursing expenses.”
“What expenses?”
“Repairs. Legal fees. Medical care.”
“You used a forged power of attorney to move money from her account.”
“I had authority.”
“You did not.”
Sandra’s eyes moved toward Tommy.
He stood slowly.
“You told me Mom signed the transfers.”
“I told you she would have signed them if she understood what was happening.”
“You said the house was already ours.”
“It will be.”
“No,” Tommy said.
His voice was quiet, but the room heard it.
Sandra stared at him.
“You need me.”
“I needed the truth.”
“You have no idea what your mother will do when the money is gone.”
“The money isn’t gone,” Ruth said. “The bank has frozen the account.”
Sandra’s lips parted.
“And North Vale?”
“Under investigation,” Detective Ellis said.
The door opened.
A uniformed officer entered with Evan Voss behind him. He was a broad man in an expensive coat, carrying a leather briefcase. His face had the same narrow eyes as Sandra.
He stopped when he saw the police.
Sandra turned toward him.
“What are you doing here?”
Evan looked at the detective.
“I was told to bring the closing documents.”
“Which closing?”
“The property transfer.”
“There is no legal property transfer,” Ruth said.
Evan’s confidence faltered.
Sandra stepped toward him. “You said the deed was ready.”
“I said it was ready if your mother signed the final packet.”
“She already signed.”
“Not the deed.”
Sandra’s face changed.
Detective Ellis watched them both.
“Did you prepare a deed for this property?”
Evan did not answer.
The detective took the briefcase from him. Inside were copies of my forged power of attorney, an unsigned deed, a purchase agreement listing the house at half its market value, and a spreadsheet showing projected profit after resale.
There was also a digital voice recorder.
Ruth picked it up with a gloved hand.
“Where did you get this?”
“From Evan’s office,” Detective Ellis said. “A warrant was executed this morning.”
The detective pressed play.
Sandra’s voice filled the room.
“She won’t be back until Sunday. Tommy will get her to sign the medical papers when she’s tired. If she refuses, Colin will certify that she’s confused. Once the trust sees her as dead, the money releases. The house goes to Evan, and Tommy gets his share.”
A man’s voice answered. “And if she comes home?”
Sandra had laughed.
“She won’t. She trusts Tommy too much to suspect him.”
The recording continued.
Tommy made a sound like he had been struck.
Sandra reached for the recorder, but Detective Ellis moved it behind her.
“Don’t touch the evidence.”
The recording played on.
“Make sure the furniture is gone before she returns,” Sandra said. “The emptier the house looks, the more frightened she’ll be. Frightened people sign things.”
