Two police cars pulled into the parking lot, followed by a third. No sirens, which was smart. They did not want to alert Linda and Paul that something was wrong.
“Thank God,” I breathed.
The first officer approached our car. Jason rolled down the window.
“Are you the callers?”
“Yes, sir. I’m Jason Miller. This is my mother, Carol.”
“I’m Officer Martinez. We need to hear that recording.”
Jason played the audio again.
Officer Martinez listened without expression, but I saw his jaw tighten when Paul talked about drugging Mom.
“Do you know what substance they’re planning to use?”
“No, but he said he had something in his jacket.”
“And your mother is currently inside the building?”
“Yes. She’s the guest of honor. It’s her eighty-fifth birthday party.”
Officer Martinez nodded.
“Here’s what we’re going to do. Two of my officers will enter the building and observe. They’ll be dressed in plain clothes and will blend in with the guests. I need you two to go back inside and act normal. Don’t do anything to alert the suspects that law enforcement is present.”
“What if they try to give her something?”
“My officers will intervene before that happens. But I need to stress this. Do not attempt to stop them yourselves. Do not confront them. Your job is to act like nothing has changed.”
I nodded, but my stomach was churning.
Going back in there, pretending everything was fine, watching Linda smile at Mom while planning to destroy her life, felt impossible.
“One more thing,” Officer Martinez said. “We’ll need to see that power of attorney document and any other paperwork your mother signed recently. It’s probably at Linda’s house. We’ll get a warrant for that, but first, let’s make sure your mother stays safe tonight.”
As we walked back toward the community center, I felt like I was walking into enemy territory. The warm, festive building that had seemed so welcoming an hour ago now felt like a trap.
“Remember,” Jason whispered, “everything is normal. We just went to the car to get something.”
But nothing would ever be normal again, because now I knew what my sister was capable of, and I had no idea how far she would go to protect her secret.
The automatic doors slid open, and we stepped back into the party. Linda rushed over immediately, her face bright with fake concern.
“There you are. Mom was worried sick. Where did you go?”
“Car,” I said simply, amazed at how steady my voice sounded.
“For forty-five minutes? Had we really been gone that long?”
Time had felt both frozen and racing while we sat in that parking lot.
“Car trouble,” Jason said smoothly. “We got it sorted out.”
Linda’s eyes narrowed slightly, but her smile never wavered.
“Well, you missed Mom’s speech. She thanked everyone for coming, especially her two daughters and her wonderful grandson.”
Her two daughters.
I wondered if Mom would still feel that way tomorrow when she learned what Linda had planned for her.
“Where is she?” I asked.
“Sitting with Mrs. Henderson and the bridge-club ladies. They’re telling stories about the good old days.”
I looked across the room and saw Mom surrounded by women her age, all of them laughing at something Mrs. Henderson was saying. Mom looked absolutely radiant. Not like someone who needed to be in a nursing home. Not like someone who was losing her mind.
“She looks wonderful,” I said.
“Oh, you know, Mom always puts on a good show,” Linda said dismissively. “But we both know she’s been struggling lately.”
