I Pretended To Travel And Discovered A Secret About My Son And Daughter In Law… In Reality, They…
On Tuesday morning, I acted as if nothing had happened. I made coffee, prepared breakfast, and chatted with Robert and Audrey about trivialities. They were also acting.
We were all actors in this macabre play, where each one knew a different script. But I had an advantage. I knew they were acting.
They didn’t know I was doing it too. As soon as Robert left for work, and Audrey went out to the grocery store, I called Ellen from my room with the door closed. I told her word for word what I had heard the night before.
«Perfect,» she said with satisfaction. «Friday is the appointment with the corrupt doctor. That gives us time.»
«The municipal inspector will visit your house on Thursday. It’s better that it is before they try to drug you.» «Do you think they will receive guests this week?»
I thought for a moment. «Probably Thursday and Friday night. They always have more movement on those days.»
Ellen paused thoughtfully. «Then we will coordinate the inspector’s visit for Thursday night, when the house is full of living evidence.» Over the next two days, I maintained my perfect performance.
I acted like the sweet, trusting grandmother. I asked Audrey if she needed help with anything. I offered Robert his favorite cookies that I baked specially.
They seemed relaxed, convinced that their plan remained intact. On Wednesday night, Audrey even showed me a brochure. «I found this health center that offers preventive check-ups for people your age, Mum.»
«How about I take you on Friday? It’s free for seniors.» Free? Liar.
They were going to pay $5,000 for that check-up. I feigned genuine interest. «A check-up? Well, that wouldn’t be bad.»
«I haven’t been to the doctor in a while.» Audrey smiled with relief. «Excellent.»
«I’ve already made the appointment for 10 in the morning on Friday. I’ll go with you.» I nodded sweetly while inside my blood was boiling.
She was closing the trap without knowing that I had already closed a bigger trap around her. On Thursday afternoon, while Audrey and Robert were preparing the house for the night’s guests, my phone vibrated. It was a message from Ellen.
Inspector confirmed for 9 o’clock at night. Police will be on standby nearby. Stay in your room when he arrives.
We’ll take care of everything. My heart started beating faster. Tonight.
Tonight their world would begin to crumble. As expected, the guests began to arrive around 7 o’clock that night. First, a young couple with large backpacks.
Then three women who seemed to be on a girls’ trip. Then a lone businessman with a briefcase and small suitcase. By 8:30, there were seven strangers occupying my house.
Audrey played her role as the expert hostess. Robert helped with the bags. He showed them the rooms.
He smiled professionally. I was in my room, supposedly reading. But in reality, I was waiting, watching the clock.
Every minute felt like an hour. 8:40, 8:50, five minutes to nine. And then I heard the sound I had been waiting for.
The doorbell, firm, authoritative. It wasn’t the doorbell of an expected guest. It was the doorbell of someone with authority.
I heard hurried footsteps. Robert’s voice asking who it was from inside. And then a strong male voice from outside.
«Municipal inspector, open the door, please.» Silence. A heavy, dense silence.
Then the sound of the door opening slowly. «Inspector, is there a problem?» Robert asked in a voice that tried to sound calm but failed.
«We received an anonymous complaint about an illegal lodging operation at this address. I need to inspect the property.» «There must be a mistake,» I heard Audrey’s voice, more high-pitched than normal.
«This is a private residence. We don’t operate any business.» The inspector replied with a professional but inflexible tone.
«Then you won’t mind if I verify. I have an inspection order signed by the municipal judge. If you don’t voluntarily let me in, I will return with the police and a search warrant.»
There was another silence. Then Robert yielded. «Of course, inspector.»
«Come in.» I peeked just a crack out of my door. I could see part of the living room.
The inspector was a man in his forties, dressed in an official municipal shirt, clipboard in hand. Behind him was another younger man, probably his assistant, with a camera. They began to walk through the house.
The inspector asked questions. «How many people reside here permanently?» Robert answered with a trembling voice.
«Three. My mother, my wife, and me.» The inspector looked around the living room.
There were the seven guests, some sitting on the sofa, others standing, all with confused expressions. «And these people are?» Audrey tried to improvise.
«They are… They are friends, friends visiting.» The inspector walked toward one of the guests, a man in his thirties. «Are you a friend of the family?»
The man, honest or perhaps nervous, replied. «No, sir. I reserved a room online.»
«I paid $35 a night.» Robert’s face went pale. Audrey tried to intervene.
«He’s confused. Inspector, I don’t know what he’s talking about.» But the inspector was already walking toward the bedrooms.
He opened the door to what had been my master bedroom. Inside were the three women with their suitcases open, clothes on the bed, toiletries in the private bathroom. «And these ladies are friends too?»
Audrey’s silence was answer enough. The inspector took out a measuring device from his briefcase. He began to count the occupied rooms, taking photos of each one.
His assistant documented everything with the camera. «Room 1, occupied by two non-residents. Room 2, occupied by three non-residents.»
«Room 3, occupied by one non-resident. Shared bathrooms, showing multiple use. Kitchen with utensils for more than three people.»
«Extra towels piled in the hallway.» Every sentence was another nail in the coffin of their illegal business. Robert attempted one last defense.
«Inspector, this is a misunderstanding. Perhaps we occasionally help acquaintances who need lodging. But it’s not a business.»
The inspector interrupted him. «Do you charge money for that lodging?» Robert hesitated.
«Well, sometimes we receive a voluntary contribution for expenses.» The inspector shook his head. «That’s called a business, a lodging business.»
«And to operate a lodging business, you need a commercial license, a tourist operating permit, a fire safety certificate, a sanitation certificate, and payment of corresponding taxes. Do you have any of those documents?» The silence was absolute.
Audrey and Robert looked at each other, defeated. They knew they had nothing. The inspector continued.
«According to the municipal code, operating a commercial lodging business without permits constitutes a serious violation. The fine is $10,000. Furthermore, I must inform you that the tax authorities will be notified about undeclared income.»
«And since this property is registered in the name of…» He looked at his papers. «Eleanor Cristina Vega de Herrera, who according to records has not authorized any commercial activity, this could also constitute fraudulent use of someone else’s property.»
I felt it was the moment. I opened my bedroom door and stepped out. All eyes turned toward me.
The guests confused. The inspector with a professional expression. And Robert and Audrey with faces of pure terror.
«Good evening,» I said with a calm voice. «I am Eleanor Vega, the owner of this property.» The inspector nodded respectfully.
«Mrs. Vega, did you authorize the operation of a lodging business on your property?» I took a moment, looking directly into the eyes of my son and daughter-in-law. «No, inspector, I authorized nothing.»
«In fact, I just discovered this situation a few days ago.» Audrey took a step toward me. «Mum, I can explain.»
I raised my hand, stopping her. «I don’t want explanations, Audrey, not now.» I turned to the inspector.
«What happens now?» He closed his clipboard. «The current guests will have to vacate the property immediately.»
«We will give them 30 minutes to gather their belongings. Your son and daughter-in-law will receive the official fine notification and will have to appear before the municipal judge next week. I have also notified the police.»
«There are two officers outside in case additional assistance is needed for the eviction.» The next 30 minutes were chaotic. The guests collected their things hastily, some demanding refunds from Audrey.
She had kept the cash in her purse and had to return it under the watchful eye of the inspector. Robert remained paralyzed, unable to speak, watching as his illegal business crumbled in minutes. When the last guest left, the inspector handed me a copy of the official report.
«Mrs. Vega, I recommend you consult with a lawyer. You have the right to sue for damages.» «I already have a lawyer, inspector.»
«Thank you for your work tonight.» When the inspector and his assistant left, the house fell into a deathly silence. The three of us remained in the living room.
I was standing by the window. Robert was sitting on the sofa with his head in his hands. Audrey was standing near the door, arms crossed, with the expression of a cornered animal.
It was she who spoke first. Her voice was no longer sweet or calculating. It was desperate.
«Mum, I know this looks bad, but we had our reasons. The house expenses are high. We have debts.»
I turned to her slowly. «Reasons? Debts?»
«And that was sufficient justification to turn my home into an illegal business without my consent?» Audrey took a step toward me. «We were going to tell you eventually.»
«We just wanted to save up first. To have some money before…» «Before what?» I interrupted with a cutting voice.
«Before drugging me and making me sign a fraudulent power of attorney?» The silence that followed was deafening. Audrey turned pale.
Robert raised his head abruptly, his eyes full of shock. «How?» Robert started to say, but his voice broke.
«How do I know?» I completed the question for him. «Because I was never traveling, Robert. I was here, watching, discovering every detail of your vile and calculated plan.»
I walked to the center of the living room, looking at both of them with an intensity that made them step back. «I know about the illegal lodging business. I know about the cash hidden in the shed.»
«I know about Dr. Lisandro. I know about the Friday appointment where you planned to sedate me. I know about the power of attorney you wanted to make me sign.»
«And I know about the Golden Hope Residence nursing home where you planned to lock me up.» Audrey shook her head frantically. «No, no, it’s not what you think.»
«Yes, we talked to the doctor, but it was just for precaution, because we were worried about your health.» «Stop the lies,» I shouted, and my voice resonated in the walls of my own house. «I found the documents, Audrey.»
«I saw them with my own eyes. I read the notes written in your handwriting. Mild sedative during the appointment.»
«Signature will be obtained during a state of induced confusion. Those were your exact words.» Audrey’s face lost all color.
Her lips trembled, but no sound came out. I turned to my son. «And you, Robert.»
«You, whom I raised. Whom I loved. To whom I gave everything your father and I could give.»
«How could you?» Robert had tears rolling down his face. «Mum, I… We…»
«The economic situation was desperate. We had $30,000 of debt. The bank was going to foreclose on our old apartment.»
«Audrey said, if we could get money fast…» «And your solution was to betray me,» I interrupted him. «Your solution was to steal my house, my freedom, my dignity.»
«It wasn’t stealing,» Audrey exploded in a high-pitched voice. «This house is enormous. You live here alone.»
«We were just taking advantage of the available space. And as for the power of attorney, it was to protect you. You’re aging.»
«You need someone to make decisions for you.» «I am 64 years old,» I said with an icy voice. «Not 80, not 90, 64.»
«My mind is perfectly clear. My health is good. I don’t need anyone to make decisions for me.»
«What you were planning was not protection. It was legal kidnapping.» Robert stood up, staggering.
«Mum, please, we can fix this. We’ll give all the money back. We’ll leave the house if you want.»
«But please, don’t report us. If you go to the police, we could go to jail.» I looked him in the eyes.
