“Ms. Mercer,” he said, “I strongly suggest you stop talking until you have an attorney.”
For once, my sister listened.
Vanessa did not leave in handcuffs that night.
That surprised me more than anything.
I had imagined crimes worked like television: show the forged deed, show the frightened mother, point to the guilty person, and someone gets arrested before the next commercial.
Real life moved slower.
Officer Brooks explained that the deed, management authorization, bank records, and Mom’s statement all had to be properly documented. The county recording office needed to verify the filing. The notary information had to be checked. The renters also had legal rights, even if Vanessa had no right to rent them the rooms.
So the first victory was smaller but more important.
Mom came upstairs.
Marcus posted the basement as unsafe for sleeping. I moved Mom into the downstairs guest room Vanessa had been using as an office. Vanessa protested until Officer Brooks reminded her Mom had established residency long before she had.
