I froze, clutching the bag, as Tanya stepped in\u2014no longer friendly. \u201cThat\u2019s not yours,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I replied, steadying myself, \u201cbut it\u2019s not yours either.\u201d<\/p>\n
She blocked the door. \u201cPut it back. Things get misplaced.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is theft.\u201d<\/p>\n
She moved closer. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to make a scene. Think about your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when it clicked\u2014this wasn\u2019t random. It was planned. People, including my mother, were at risk.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you should be worried,\u201d I said. \u201cThe police will want answers.\u201d<\/p>\n
She hesitated. That was enough. I slipped past her and rushed out with the bag.<\/p>\n
Sophie was waiting. \u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay. We\u2019re going to help Grandma.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the front desk, I didn\u2019t hesitate. \u201cCall the director\u2014and the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everything blurred after that. I gave my statement, Sophie\u2019s hand in mine. The director promised an investigation, but one question lingered\u2014how long had this been happening?<\/p>\n
Outside, Sophie looked up. \u201cDid we help Grandma?\u201d<\/p>\n
I hugged her tightly. \u201cYeah\u2026 we did.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I froze, clutching the bag, as Tanya stepped in\u2014no longer friendly. \u201cThat\u2019s not yours,\u201d she said. \u201cNo,\u201d I replied, steadying myself, \u201cbut it\u2019s not yours either.\u201d She blocked the door. \u201cPut it back. Things get misplaced.\u201d \u201cThis is theft.\u201d She moved closer. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to make a scene. Think about your mother.\u201d That\u2019s when…<\/p>\n