Chapter 7: Karen Makes Her Move
The call from Karen came the next morning at 7:50 a.m.
I was getting ready for work.
I let it ring.
She called again immediately.
I picked up on the second call.
"I know what you're doing," she said.
No greeting.
"Good morning, Karen."
"Don't.
I know you've been talking to your father.
I know you sent him to some lawyer.
And I know you've been filling his head with lies."
"I haven't lied to anyone."
"You've turned him against his own wife.
After everything I've done for this family."
"What have you done for this family, Karen?"
"I have taken care of your father for six years.
I manage his appointments, his finances, his medications.
Without me he would be completely lost."
"He seems to be finding his way."
Her voice dropped.
"You have no idea what you're starting."
"I think I do."
"Drop whatever you're planning.
Drop the case against Mia.
And I will make sure your father forgets any of this happened.
We go back to normal.
Everyone moves on."
I walked to my kitchen window.
"That's your offer?"
"That's my offer.
You get your furniture back.
Mia apologizes.
We put this behind us."
"And the transfers from my father's account?"
A pause.
Short but sharp.
"That is none of your business."
"It's his money, Karen."
"I have taken care of him for six years." Her voice had an edge now that she wasn't bothering to hide.
"That has a value.
That deserves recognition."
"There are legal ways to recognize that.
Taking money without his knowledge isn't one of them."
"Be very careful, Thomas."
"I am being careful.
That's the problem for you."
"If you push this, I will make sure every person in this family knows exactly what kind of son you are.
I will make sure your father believes you're doing this for the money.
For the inheritance.
I will make sure—"
"Karen." I kept my voice level.
"I'm going to stop you there."
She stopped.
"This conversation is being recorded," I said.
"I started recording when you called back the second time.
I'll be forwarding it to Sandra this morning."
Silence.
Not the calculating kind.
The caught kind.
"You—"
"The furniture.
The message from my father's phone.
The transfers.
Diane's statement.
And now this call." I picked up my keys from the counter.
"Have a good morning."
I ended the call.
My hands were steady.
I was surprised by that.
I sent the recording to Sandra with a single line: *She called.
Offered a deal.
Then made threats.
Full recording attached.*
Sandra replied seven minutes later.
*This is significant.
Threat to manipulate your father's beliefs about your motives, combined with the existing evidence, strengthens the picture considerably.
Do not contact her again.
Let me handle the next step.*
Then, twenty minutes later, a second message from Sandra.
*One more thing.
Mia just contacted my office directly.
She wants to negotiate a settlement.
She's offering to return the furniture and pay three months' back rent in exchange for dropping the case.*
I read it twice.
*What do you want to do?* Sandra asked.
I thought about the dinner table.
The smug smile.
The empty living room.
The photo of Mia and her friends on my couch.
I thought about my dad signing documents he didn't read.
I thought about Karen's voice dropping low: *You have no idea what you're starting.*
May you like
I typed back: *Tell her no.
We proceed.*
