The officer flipped through the stack, nodding as he verified the VIN. It should have ended there, but Karen screeched, "Those papers are fake! He forged them!"
By now, neighbors were peeking out from their curtains. Seeing the officers caught between verified legal documents and a woman throwing a wild tantrum, I pulled out my phone and dialed my brother-in-law, Daniel.
"Hey," I said loudly enough for Karen to hear. "I need you down here. The neighbor is trying to claim my truck, and the police are involved."
"Ten minutes," Daniel replied.
When I hung up, Karen's expression faltered. "Who was that?" she demanded.
"You'll find out," I said.
Enter the State Attorney
Ten minutes later, a sleek black SUV pulled up to the curb. Out stepped Daniel—wearing a sharp tailored suit, his official badge clipped firmly to his belt. As a state attorney, he was also the man who had overseen all the original paperwork when I bought the truck.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. The officers straightened up, and Karen’s bravado completely evaporated. She tried to recover, pasting on her fake smile.
"Oh, thank goodness," she gushed. "Finally, an investigator who can see the truth about this stolen vehicle!"