Chapter 4 - SUZANNE WANTS HER CARD
Suzanne did not understand court orders.
Not because they were complicated.
Because she had spent her life believing consequences were for people without family backup.
The evening Derek was removed from the apartment, Suzanne showed up with two empty designer shopping bags and an attitude.
Skylar was not there.
She had arranged for police to supervise the lock change.
A locksmith worked at the door while Officer Ramirez stood in the hallway.
Mrs. Alvarez from 7B watched through her cracked door with no shame whatsoever.
Suzanne arrived in heels, sunglasses, and fury.
“Where is my brother?”
Officer Ramirez looked at her.
“Ma’am, this residence is under a protective order.”
“I asked where my brother is.”
“And I answered what matters.”
Suzanne tried to push past him.
The officer stepped in front of her.
“You cannot enter.”
“This is family property.”
The locksmith glanced at the deed copy taped temporarily to the inside of the door for identification.
“No, it isn’t,” he muttered.
Suzanne heard.
Her face reddened.
“I have things inside.”
Officer Ramirez asked, “Do you live here?”
“No, but—”
“Do you have court authorization to retrieve property?”
“No, but my brother—”
“Then you need to leave.”
Suzanne pulled out her phone.
“I’m calling Derek.”
“Do that from the sidewalk.”
She did not leave.
Instead, she called Skylar.
Skylar watched the call come through while sitting in Elena Salazar’s office.
She let it ring.
Then a voicemail arrived.
“You’re disgusting, Skylar. My brother gave you everything, and now you’re acting like some victim because of a little coffee. You better return my money and my things, or I swear I’ll make sure everyone knows what kind of woman you are.”
Elena held out her hand.
Skylar gave her the phone.
Elena smiled slightly.
“Witness intimidation is a family tradition, I see.”
The next day, Suzanne received her own notice.
Not criminal charges yet.
A demand letter.
Repayment of documented loans.
Cease and desist for harassment.
Notice of preservation of communications.
Notice to provide receipts for items purchased using Skylar’s funds.
Suzanne called Derek screaming.
Derek, now staying on his coworker’s couch, screamed back.
The siblings who had once teamed up against Skylar began dividing blame like hungry dogs over scraps.
Suzanne said Derek promised the card.
Derek said Suzanne pushed him.
Suzanne said Skylar owed the family.
Derek said Skylar had always been selfish.
Neither noticed that Elena had subpoenaed bank records.
The records told a cleaner story than either of them could.
Skylar’s card had paid for Suzanne’s nail course deposit.
Suzanne’s television.
A Miami Beach hotel stay.
A designer bag Suzanne claimed was a birthday gift from “family.”
Cash advances taken from an ATM near Derek’s office.
Three transfers marked temporary help.
Zero repayments.
Then came the worst document.
An online credit application attempted two weeks before the coffee incident.
Applicant: Skylar Lawson.
Secondary user: Suzanne Lawson.
Email recovery number: Derek’s.
Skylar had never seen it.
The bank had declined the application because the identity verification failed.
Derek and Suzanne had not been asking for the card because they were desperate for one payment.
They were escalating.
The coffee was not about breakfast.
It was about control slipping.
When Skylar learned that, she sat very still.
Elena watched her carefully.
“Are you okay?”
Skylar looked at the bank records.
“No.”
May you like
Then she took a breath.
“But I’m done being surprised.”
