Doña Carmen’s jaw dropped. “Julian! Have you lost your mind? You’re calling the authorities on your own mother?”

“I’m calling the authorities on a criminal,” Julian said, his eyes going dead and cold. “Get out of my house.”

PART 3

The paramedics arrived fifteen minutes later, their heavy boots echoing up the concrete stairwell alongside two local police officers.

As they carefully eased Mariana onto a stretcher, making sure her bruised legs were stabilized, the officers took Julian’s statement right in the middle of the small living room.

Doña Carmen switched stories instantly, playing the fragile, misunderstood old woman. She wept loudly, claiming Mariana had attacked her first and that she’d only been defending herself.