He Was Sure the Cops Would Believe the Polished Son-in-Law Over a Terrified Old Woman. Then I Asked Them to Look at the Fireplace

Thank God.

She just — she lost her mind tonight, I don’t even know how to — ”

I walked past him without slowing down.

Chapter 6 — She Snapped

“Valerie, will you listen?” He came after me, following me through the glass doors into the bright fluorescent hum of the station.

“Your mother has lost her grip on reality.