Tony’s school counselor called Naomi the following morning.

“Tony asked to speak with Mrs.

Reid and Althia,” she said.

“He brought something he believes belongs to them.”

Jessica had not arrived when we reached the school.

Tony sat beside the counselor, clutching an old tablet to his chest.

“I’m sorry,” he said when I entered.

I knelt beside his chair.

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

“Mom says you’ll make us homeless if I talk.”

“I would never punish you for what adults did.”

He offered me the tablet.

“It backs up my phone.

Mom forgot.”

Naomi connected it to her laptop.

Several audio files appeared, each marked with a date.

Carol’s voice filled the office.

“Keep the scarf high.

The notary owes me, and the clerk only needs to see the license for a second.”

Jessica laughed.

“Althia signs the A too carefully.”

“Then practice until you can do it.”

Michael’s voice came next.

“If this fails, I’m not losing the apartment over Jessica’s ridiculous company.”

Carol answered, “It won’t fail.

Althia never checks the household paperwork.”

I gripped the edge of the desk.

“He knew,” I whispered.

Tony slid out of his chair and wrapped his arms around me.

“I’m sorry Uncle Michael knew.”

The tears came before I could stop them.

The counselor passed me a tissue while Tony held on tighter.

“You told the truth when grown people were afraid to,” I said.

“That was brave.”

“I didn’t do it to be brave.

I did it because you never made me feel like a burden.”

Naomi looked away for a moment, then carefully copied every file.

The office door opened.

Jessica stood there, breathing hard.

“Tony, get your coat.”

He moved behind my chair.

“You frightened him,” I said.

“You turned him against me.”

“You told him honesty would cost him his home.”

Jessica pointed at the tablet.

“That recording was made illegally.”

Naomi closed her laptop.

“Whether it can be used in court depends on the circumstances.

The lender can still use it to investigate its own closing.”

Jessica lunged toward the tablet.

The counselor stepped between them.

“You need to leave,” she said.

Jessica stared at Tony.

“If you walk out with her, don’t expect me to forget it.”

Tony’s face crumpled.

I stood.

“Do not make your son choose between you and the truth.”

Jessica grabbed her purse and walked out.

Naomi’s phone rang seconds later.

She answered, listened, then put the call on speaker.

A man’s voice said, “My name is Daniel.

I’m Jessica’s former husband.”

“What do you want?” Naomi asked.

“To help Althia.”

“Why now?”

“Because Tony called me last night.

And because this isn’t the first time Jessica has copied another woman’s signature.”

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