“She is weak!” Lorraine shrieked, dropping the act entirely. “Your wife is a pathetic little girl who uses her medical issues to control you! I’m trying to make her strong! I’m trying to save your house! You should be thanking me! I raised you! I sacrificed everything for you!”

“You didn’t sacrifice anything. You want control, and you enjoy cruelty,” I said flatly. “But your reign in my house is over. Right now.”

“What are you saying? You’re going to throw your own mother out?”

“No,” I said. “I’m locking you out.”

On cue, I heard the rumble of a van pulling into my driveway. “Look out the front window, Lorraine.”

She marched out. I switched to the doorbell camera and watched her pull back the living-room curtains. A van reading Apex Security & Locksmiths sat at the curb, two men already at the door pulling drills and lock cylinders from their bags.