That night, Ethan sat at my kitchen table for a long time without saying anything.
“Mom,” he finally said. “Why didn’t you tell me? About the power of attorney? About the camera?”
“Would you have believed me?”
He opened his mouth. Then he closed it again.
“I don’t know,” he said honestly.
“That’s why,” I said.
He put his face in his hands.
“I let her tell me you were losing your mind,” he said. “For three months. I never once asked you. I never once looked for myself.”
“No,” I said. “You didn’t.”
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“I know you are, honey.”
But I didn’t tell him it was all right.
Because it wasn’t.
Brittany moved out of the lake house that same weekend. She went to stay with her sister in Kenosha.
Over the next several weeks, the investigation moved forward.
The way I always told my young investigators it should. Slowly. Carefully. Legally.
Detectives got a warrant for Brittany’s phone records. The six o’clock call to the TSA tip line had come from a burner phone. But that burner phone had been purchased at a Walgreens in Kenosha. Three days before my flight. And the security camera at that Walgreens showed exactly who bought it.
Brittany.
Then they traced those four bottles of pills.
Darlene Kowalski was a real person. An eighty-one-year-old woman in Waukegan. Her prescriptions had been stolen in a break-in at a small independent pharmacy six weeks earlier.
Two weeks later, police arrested a man named Kyle Dorsey for that break-in.
Kyle Dorsey was Brittany’s cousin.
He took a plea deal almost immediately. He told detectives that Brittany had paid him three hundred dollars for four bottles of pills. He said she told him it was “to teach her mother-in-law a lesson.”
And then my attorney found one more thing.
Ethan Blake is a skilled Creative Content Specialist with a talent for crafting engaging and thought-provoking narratives. With a strong background in storytelling and digital content creation, Ethan brings a unique perspective to his role at TheArchivists, where he curates and produces captivating content for a global audience.
Ethan holds a degree in Communications from Zurich University, where he developed his expertise in storytelling, media strategy, and audience engagement. Known for his ability to blend creativity with analytical precision, he excels at creating content that not only entertains but also connects deeply with readers.
At TheArchivists, Ethan specializes in uncovering compelling stories that reflect a wide range of human experiences. His work is celebrated for its authenticity, creativity, and ability to spark meaningful conversations, earning him recognition among peers and readers alike.
Passionate about the art of storytelling, Ethan enjoys exploring themes of culture, history, and personal growth, aiming to inspire and inform with every piece he creates. Dedicated to making a lasting impact, Ethan continues to push boundaries in the ever-evolving world of digital content.