“Yes.”
“This is Inspector Julio Ortega. I’m calling from the financial crimes unit. We’ve been investigating a fraud case involving your daughter-in-law, Lucía Vargas.”
My stomach dropped.
“What kind of case?”
“She’s been reported by three other individuals for financial exploitation. All of them are elderly family members. In each case, she gained access to their accounts under false pretenses and made unauthorized charges.”
I couldn’t speak.
“Mrs. Ríos, we received your bank’s fraud report from three months ago. Your case was the first one filed. We’d like to ask you a few questions.”
I answered every single one.
Two weeks later, Lucía was arrested.
The charges included fraud, identity theft, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.
Javier called me the night it happened.
“Mom, did you know?”
“The police called me.”
“Did you press charges?”
“I gave a statement. They did the rest.”
Silence.
“She’s asking for bail money.”
“From who?”
“From me. From her mother. From anyone.”
“What did you say?”
“I said no.”
I exhaled.
“Good.”
“Mom, I didn’t know she was doing this to other people.”
“I know.”
“I feel like I don’t know who I was married to.”
“Maybe you didn’t.”
He was quiet for a moment.
Then:
“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you sooner.”
