I opened the door, but kept the security chain engaged. He looked irritated, but I could see the flicker of fear in his eyes.
— “What is going on?” he demanded.
I looked him dead in the eye.
— “The technician fixed the cameras yesterday, Mark.”
It took a second for it to register. Then his face went pale.
— “What cameras?”
— “The ones you thought were just for show.”
He swallowed hard.
— “Are you… are you spying on me?”
— “No. I’m protecting my property.”
He tried to laugh it off, a weak, hollow sound.
— “You’re overreacting. My mom was just helping me look for some tax stuff.”
— “To sell my house?” I cut him off.
He went quiet. That silence was louder than any confession.
— “It was going to be temporary,” he started, his words coming faster now. “Jason’s in a hole. We were going to pay it all back.”
— “We?” I asked. “Or you and your mother?”
He huffed, trying to regain his footing.
— “You’re being dramatic.”
I pulled up the video on my phone and turned the volume all the way up. Evelyn’s voice echoed through the doorway: “Real family has to look out for each other.”
He flinched as if I’d slapped him…
