He glanced at me.
“Not when they announce a man’s death while he’s eating breakfast.”
Vanessa started speaking quickly.
She said Harold had called.
Then she said she had misunderstood Harold.
Then she said Grant had seen paperwork and assumed something had happened.
The story changed three times in less than a minute.
Dad let her talk.
That was his favorite method when someone was lying.
He did not interrupt.
He let people add details until the truth had nowhere left to hide.
Finally he asked, “Where are you going right now?”
The turn signal was still clicking.
“We’re driving.”
“I can hear that.”
“To your house.”
Dad looked at me.
“Why?”
“We were worried.”
Grant muttered something.
Dad’s mouth tightened.
“Were you worried before or after you arranged for someone to evaluate my truck?”
No answer.
“Were you worried before or after changing my locks?”
Vanessa snapped, “We haven’t changed anything yet.”
Dad leaned back.
“That is the first useful sentence you’ve said.”
