Mom had called him.
So had Detective Ramirez.
We sat around Mr. Bellamy’s dining table.
Vanessa had been released while the investigation continued because although the theft evidence was strong, police had not yet proven who created the forged amendment.
Harold looked exhausted.
“I need to clarify something,” he said.
“The amendment wasn’t created by Vanessa.”
I stared at him.
“Then who?”
Harold looked at Mom.
Mom looked down.
My chest tightened.
“No.”
She began to cry.
I had seen Mom cry only four times in my life.
When her mother died.
When Dad died.
When my sister Emily died at nineteen.
And now.
“Mom?”
She whispered, “I created it.”
Nobody moved.
I thought I had misunderstood.
“You forged your own trust?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To make it look like Vanessa did.”
The words hit harder than anything Vanessa had said.
I stepped backward.
“What?”
Mom covered her face.
“I’m sorry.”
