Chapter 14 - The Practice Pages

Detective Price asked Brett to repeat the claim during a formal interview.

He told investigators about a notebook Linda had used, the old identification scan, and the batches of documents Gene carried between the house and the document-services office.

I did not sit in the interview.

I learned the outline later, through information authorities could appropriately share and documents Brett provided to my attorney.

The notebook, Brett said, was hidden in the drawer beneath Linda's sewing machine.

Investigators handled the possible evidence through lawful procedures; I did not search my mother's belongings myself.

Meanwhile, Linda launched a neighborhood campaign.

She told church acquaintances that I had returned from deployment obsessed with money.

She told relatives that I'd threatened to take shelter from a pregnant sister.

She told my old high school friend Rachel that my grandfather's trust had made me paranoid.

Rachel called me that night.

"I wanted to hear it from you," she said.

I explained only what I could prove.

She listened.

Then she said, "Your mother told us years ago that Walter left the house to Gene."

I sat up.

"Years ago?"

"Right after the funeral.

She said the paperwork was delayed."

The lie had started long before Kuwait.

My deployment had merely given them an opportunity.

At dinner, I didn't confront Linda about the rumor campaign.

Instead I asked whether she remembered Grandpa's last birthday.

She looked suspicious.

"Of course."

"He made everybody sign his guest book."

"What about it?"

"You told me he was old-fashioned for keeping records."

Her expression flickered.

"He was."

"I'm starting to appreciate it."

For a second she looked frightened.

Then Gene entered and demanded to know whether I had called the police on my own mother.

"I reported questioned signatures," I said.

"You put an investigation on our family."

"The paperwork put an investigation on the family."

He struck the table with his open hand, making the dishes jump.

I stood and went to the basement rather than escalate the confrontation.

At midnight I heard drawers opening upstairs.

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Then I heard Linda whisper, "Where did you put the blue notebook?"