Noah appeared in the doorway. “Grandma, Lucia wouldn’t steal anything!”
“Go to your room, Noah.”
“But—”
“Now!”
The police came within an hour. Two officers searched Lucia’s small room above the garage while she stood in the driveway, neighbors watching from windows.
“Nothing here,” one officer reported.
“She hid it somewhere else,” Eleanor insisted. “Arrest her anyway. She’s the thief.”
“Ma’am, we can’t arrest someone without evidence—”
“Do you know who I am?” Eleanor stepped closer. “My family built half this town. Make the arrest.”
Daniel stood silent on the porch.
The officer sighed. “Miss Morales, you’ll need to come down to the station for questioning.”
Lucia looked at Daniel. “Please. You know me. I’ve worked here for eight years.”
He looked away.
Noah ran down the steps. “Dad, tell them!”
“Go inside, son.”
“She didn’t do it!”
“Noah. Inside.”
They took her in the police car. No handcuffs, but everyone saw.
At the station, they questioned her for three hours. No lawyer. No phone call. Just questions.
“Where did you sell it?”
“I didn’t take anything.”
“You have debts. You needed money.”
“I have no debts.”
“Mrs. Aldridge says you’ve been acting suspicious.”
“Mrs. Aldridge has never liked me.”