Suddenly, the designer clothes, the sports car, Doris’s sudden wealth… it all made sickening sense.
“I’ve gotta go,” I said, already reaching for my jacket. “Cover for me?”
Max nodded, concern etched on his face. “You gonna be okay?”
I paused at the door. “No. But I’m going to get what belongs to my son.”
Police officer Sanders, according to his nameplate, looked uncomfortably between Doris and me as we stood in her immaculate living room.
“Ma’am, without documentation proving the money belongs to you or your son, there’s not much we can do,” he explained.
Doris stood with her arms crossed, triumph flashing in her eyes.
“But it was my husband’s money,” I insisted. “He saved it for us.”
“Hearsay,” Doris cut in. “Zach never mentioned any of this to me.”
Officer Sanders sighed. “Ms. Tiana, I sympathize with your situation, truly. But legally speaking, possession is nine-tenths of the law in cases like this.”
His partner, a younger officer who’d been silent until now, spoke up. “Although I have to say, ma’am,” he addressed Doris, “I find it pretty shocking that instead of helping your daughter-in-law and grandson, you’d use your dead son’s money for sports cars and fancy clothes.”
Doris flinched, color draining from her face.
“Get out,” she hissed. “All of you.”
As we left, I caught a glimpse of Zach in the family photos lining the wall. His smile, so like Benny’s, seemed to follow me out the door.
“I’m sorry,” Officer Sanders said as we reached the patrol car. “Sometimes the law doesn’t always align with what’s right.”
I nodded numbly. “Thank you for trying.”
