“Julia, dear, you’ve always been so emotional,” she said.

“Come home, apologize, and stop embarrassing the family. Travis might forgive you.” Behind her, cardboard boxes were stacked in the hallway.

They were packing my belongings. Travis stepped into frame. “You have until noon. After that, we change the locks.”
Dad watched the recording twice. Then he smiled — and it wasn’t a kind smile. “Good.” I stared at him. “Good?”

“They just proved they’re inside the house, handling your property, and threatening to lock you out.”

Denise nodded. “And Patricia is wearing something that belongs to you.”

Chapter 8 — The Pearls

The next few hours passed in a blur. We filed a police report about the suspected forged loan paperwork and the unauthorized transfers.