Joseph Law. Physics teacher. My closest friend and the most pragmatic man I knew. He lived ten minutes away.

“Joe, I need you to come to my place right now. Bring your camera. The good one.”

“Tom? You sound… weird. What’s going on?”

“Trust me. Police are coming. I need a witness.”

“I’m on my way.”

He arrived before the police. Bless him. Joseph was sixty, with hair the color of steel wool and a demeanor as steady as bedrock. I explained quickly, showing him the photos on my phone as we stood by his car.

“That evil…” he breathed, the word hanging in the cold air. “You’re sure it was Bernice?”

“Emma’s note said ‘Grandma.’ And think about it, Joe. Kathy doesn’t have the spine to pull something like this. She’s terrified of confrontation. This is a tactical strike. This is Bernice. She’s been trying to get full custody of Emma since the divorce started. She thinks I’m not good enough. Never was. This would eliminate me completely.”

Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder.