Chapter 5 - Borrowing
Harrison picked up the paper with both hands.
"Mom, I can explain."
"Then explain."
He looked at Sloan.
Sloan looked back at him, and for the first time I saw something between them that was not partnership.
Fear.
"The transfers were loans," Harrison said.
"Loans require permission."
"I was going to pay you back."
"With what job?"
His face tightened.
Sloan cut in. "He was trying to protect us."
"By stealing from me?"
"Don't use that word."
"What word would you prefer?"
"Family helping family."
I almost admired the nerve it took to say that in my kitchen.
I tapped the forged document.
"Did family forge my signature too?"
Harrison's face went pale.
"I didn't sign that."
Sloan turned to him. "Harrison."
He looked at her.
"I didn't."
The room changed.
I asked, "Who did?"
Neither answered.
I pulled out my phone.
Sloan's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing?"
"Calling the police."
Harrison stepped forward. "Mom, wait."
"Move."
"Please."
There it was again. The little boy voice. The one that used to undo me.
But now I could hear the adult behind it.
"Tell me the truth."
He rubbed his forehead.
"We had debt."
"How much?"
"Some."
"How much?"
Sloan snapped, "Why does the number matter?"
I looked at her.
"Because my money paid it."
Harrison whispered, "$61,000."
I stared at him.
"Credit cards?"
He nodded.
"Whose?"
Silence.
I turned toward Sloan.
She folded her arms.
"Mostly mine."
There it was.
The purse was not a symbol anymore.
It was evidence of a lifestyle my retirement was financing.
"You have until Sunday at six," I said.
Harrison looked confused. "For what?"
"To leave my house."
Sloan laughed.
"You can't evict us in three days."
I looked at her.
"You're right."
Her smile returned.
May you like
Then I added, "So tomorrow morning I'm hiring someone who knows exactly how fast I can."
Her smile disappeared.
