PART 5
“That gate doesn’t keep family out,” Colin snapped.
“It does when family shows up shouting in the rain at two in the morning.”
His face hardened.
“They’re my responsibility.”
“They’re people,” I said. “Not luggage.”
Colin grabbed the gate rail and shook it.
“They can’t manage anything. I handle their bills, their bank accounts, the insurance, the house paperwork. Everything.”
June spoke behind me, thin but clear.
“You took my checkbook.”
“Because you forget things,” Colin snapped.
Walter’s hand tightened on his cane.
“You locked the phone in your truck.”
“Because scammers call old people.”
“You sold my tractor.”
“It was rusting.”
“You changed the bank password.”
“Because you kept asking stupid questions.”
Every answer came too fast.
Polished.
Practiced.
I’d heard men lie with that rhythm before.
They don’t explain.
They prosecute.
Then Walter lifted his head.
“You locked us upstairs.”
Colin’s mouth twitched.
“For your safety.”
June made a sound that was not quite a sob.
Max stepped forward.
One step.
His growl rolled low through the rain.
Colin froze.
I said, “He doesn’t like the way you talk to her.”
Colin leaned toward the gate.
“Fine. Keep them tonight. Tomorrow I’m calling the sheriff.”
May you like
Then he smiled.
“And after that, I’m selling their house, their land, all of it.”
