Chapter 3

Tyler’s hand hovered awkwardly in the air.

Seeing her son back down, my aunt shot up from the couch, her voice shrill and panicked. "Who are you trying to intimidate? Security cameras? Are you treating your own family like thieves?"

She pulled Tyler behind her, quickly regaining her arrogant defiance.

"Let her call! Calling them won't do anything! What can the cops do anyway? We're her relatives! What’s wrong with crashing at her place for a few days?"

The police arrived much faster than they expected.

The moment my aunt saw real uniforms walk through the door, her face drained of color, but her mouth stayed stubborn.

Putting her hands on her hips, she let out a voice like nails on a chalkboard. "Officers! Oh, thank goodness you're here. You need to talk some sense into her! My niece bought this apartment, and we just came to stay for a couple of days, but now she’s kicking us out and calling the cops on her own uncle! Is this how family treats each other?"

The younger officer ignored her and looked at me. "Who called 911?"

"I did." I showed him the call log and my ID. "These individuals forced open my lock and broke into my apartment without my permission. They have severely damaged my property. I want charges pressed according to the law."

Uncle Marcus stood up, plastering a fake smile across his face to play the peacemaker. "Officers, this is all a misunderstanding. Truly. I'm her uncle, her biological uncle! Her parents told us we could come stay here."

"I'm asking you," the officer interrupted coldly, "did the homeowner give you permission to enter?"

My aunt blurted out, "Her mother gave permission! Her mom told us with her own mouth to come straight here!"

"I never agreed to it," I said, my voice steady and firm. "My mother made promises she had no right to make. I explicitly refused."

My aunt’s face turned bright red, her lips trembling, unable to form words.

Tyler, standing in the corner, muttered, "Chloe, get over yourself. So what if we popped the lock? It’s not like we did it on purpose. We couldn't find the key, and we weren't going to sleep in the hallway!"

I nearly choked on a bitter laugh.

Not on purpose? Crowbarring a deadbolt off the door wasn't on purpose? Then what was?

The officer glanced at Tyler, then scanned the garbage-strewn floor, the scribbled walls, and the soiled sofa. His brow furrowed into a deep scowl.

The older officer, Officer Davis, looked to be in his forties and clearly had years of experience dealing with domestic calls.

He pulled Marcus and my aunt to the side and spoke in a low, stern voice.

Marcus suddenly raised his voice. "What do you mean, illegal entry? We're family! This is a family matter! Are you cops really sticking your noses into a minor family dispute?"

My aunt chimed in, "Exactly! It's not like we're burglars! We're her real family! She lived in our house for years when she was little! Now she’s made something of herself and treats us like dirt?"

Officer Davis wasn't intimidated by their shouting. His tone remained completely level. "I don't care how you're related. The homeowner explicitly stated she did not give consent. Forcing a lock to enter someone's home is a criminal offense. Take a look around this apartment. Look at what you've done to it."