Chapter 4: The Flash Drive
Michael stared at the little silver flash drive in Caleb's hand as if the boy were holding a loaded weapon.
“Give me that,” he said.
Caleb stepped behind Rose.
“No.””
Michael took one step forward.
“I said give it to me.””
Marcus moved between them.
“And I said you're not touching him.””
The police cruiser pulled into the driveway. Two officers stepped out, one a middle-aged woman with her hand resting near her radio, the other a younger man carrying a notebook.
“What's going on here?”” the female officer asked.
Daniel approached them.
“My name is Daniel. We have an elderly woman who appears to have been the victim of financial exploitation and possible property fraud. There's also a sixteen-year-old who says he's been threatened.””
The officer looked toward Rose.
“Ma'am, are you Rose Bennett?””
“Yes.””
“Are you safe right now?””
Rose glanced at Michael.
“I don't know.””
The officer nodded.
“My name is Officer Harris. Nobody is going anywhere until we understand what's happened.””
Michael immediately stepped forward.
“Officer, this is a misunderstanding. My mother-in-law has been confused lately. She's been making accusations because she doesn't understand some financial arrangements.””
Rose's fingers tightened around her cardigan.
Officer Harris looked at him.
“Are you a legal guardian?””
“No.””
“Do you have power of attorney?””
Michael hesitated.
“Her daughter handles those matters.””
“Then I'll speak with the daughter.””
Linda wiped her cheeks.
“I'm her daughter. I have authorization to manage her affairs.””
Officer Harris held out her hand.
“May I see the paperwork?””
Linda looked toward the folder scattered across the driveway.
Michael quickly interrupted.
“She doesn't need to examine private family documents.””
Officer Harris's expression hardened.
“Sir, I'm investigating a possible crime. I decide what I need to examine.””
Ethan quietly smiled.
“That's a good answer.””
Officer Harris ignored him and turned to Caleb.
“What's on the flash drive?””
Caleb swallowed.
“Recordings. Conversations between my parents.””
Michael laughed.
“Those are private recordings. He has no idea what he's talking about.””
Caleb shook his head.
“I know exactly what I'm talking about.””
He handed the drive to Officer Harris.
“My dad told Mom what to do with Grandma's money. He told her how to make the signatures look real. And he told her what would happen if Grandma came home.””
Linda covered her face.
“Caleb, please.””
“No, Mom. I'm done protecting him.””
Officer Harris placed the flash drive in an evidence envelope.
“I'm not going to listen to anything until it's properly preserved. But I want to ask you something, Caleb. When did you make these recordings?””
“About three weeks ago.””
“Why?””
The boy looked at his grandmother.
“Because I heard Dad telling Mom that Grandma wouldn't be around much longer.””
Rose felt her knees weaken.
Officer Harris immediately called for another officer to assist.
Meanwhile, the second officer began photographing the property documents, the changed locks, and the empty rooms visible through the front windows.
Marcus helped Rose sit in the cruiser while the officers interviewed the others separately.
A few minutes later, Officer Harris returned.
“Mrs. Bennett, I need to ask you something about your hospitalization.””
Rose nodded.
“Anything.””
“Did anyone ask you to sign financial or property documents while you were receiving treatment?””
“My daughter brought me a folder.””
“Did you understand what you were signing?””
“I thought it was medical authorization.””
“Did you have medication that might have affected your judgment?””
Rose looked down.
“I had pain medication. I remember feeling sleepy.””
Officer Harris made a note.
“Do you have access to your hospital discharge papers?””
“I think so. My doctor gave me a copy.””
“Good. We need to establish where you were when these documents were supposedly notarized.””
Marcus leaned against the cruiser.
“Officer, the paperwork says she appeared before a notary at 2:15 p.m. on October 8.””
Officer Harris looked up.
“That's useful. We'll verify it.””
Rose looked toward her daughter.
Linda was sitting on the porch, crying quietly while another officer spoke with her.
“Will you arrest her?””
Officer Harris didn't immediately answer.
“I can't promise you what happens tonight. But I can promise that we'll investigate the evidence, not simply accept what anyone tells us.””
Rose nodded.
She appreciated the honesty.
Then Caleb approached the cruiser.
“Grandma?””
Rose reached for his hand.
“Come here, sweetheart.””
He sat beside her.
“I'm sorry.””
“For what?””
“I knew Dad was lying. I knew he was doing something bad. But I was scared.””
Rose gently touched his injured hand.
“You're sixteen. You shouldn't have had to carry this.””
Caleb's eyes filled.
“I thought if I told you, he'd hurt you.””
Rose pulled him close.
“You protected me the best way you knew how.””
Officer Harris returned with a phone.
“Mrs. Bennett, there's something else.””
Rose looked up.
“The property transfer document lists a notary named Patricia Collins. Do you know her?””
“No.””
“Neither does the hospital's visitor record show anyone by that name entering your room.””
Michael suddenly stood.
“That's ridiculous. Patricia is a licensed notary.””
Officer Harris turned toward him.
“Then verifying her identity should be straightforward.””
Michael looked away.
For the first time, he appeared genuinely frightened.
Officer Harris continued.
“We're going to request the original notarization records and compare the signature. But there's a more urgent issue.””
She held up a printed page.
“The company listed as the buyer of your house was registered only eleven days ago.””
Rose stared.
“Who owns it?””
Officer Harris read the name.
“Bennett Residential Holdings.””
Marcus frowned.
“That's convenient.””
Officer Harris looked at him.
“It's registered to a person named Michael Bennett.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Caleb whispered:
“There's something else on the recordings.””
Officer Harris turned.
“What?””
Caleb looked at his father.
“He said the house was never supposed to be sold.””
Michael's head snapped toward him.
Caleb continued.
“He said once Grandma was declared incompetent, they could take control of everything without having to explain where the money went.””
Rose felt the cold settle into her bones.
Declared incompetent.
Her daughter had spent months telling neighbors she was confused. She had told doctors Rose couldn't manage her affairs. She had even convinced relatives that Rose was becoming dangerous to herself.
It hadn't been concern.
It had been preparation.
Officer Harris took out her notebook again.
“Caleb, I need you to tell me everything you remember.””
The boy nodded.
Then he looked at his grandmother.
“Grandma, there's one recording you need to hear.””
May you like
He lowered his voice.
“It explains why Dad came back.””
