“Until ownership is verified, nobody touches the vehicle.”
Evelyn stepped toward him.
“You’re just taking his side because he’s a chief.”
“No, ma’am.”
Price’s expression tightened.
“I’m taking the position that a bill of sale disputed as fraudulent does not allow me to seize a vehicle from someone’s driveway.”
“He’s abusing his position.”
Walter almost laughed.
“I haven’t asked them to do anything.”
“You didn’t need to.”
She pointed toward the officers.
“They saluted you.”
Walter’s voice remained calm.
“They recognized me. That doesn’t transfer title to Tyler.”
Evelyn turned toward Officer Cole. “Run the VIN.”
Cole nodded and used her radio.
The Camaro was registered to Walter Hayes.
Same address.
Title clean.
No lien.
No transfer pending in the police-accessible record.
Evelyn crossed her arms again.
“That system hasn’t updated.”
Walter looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
Silence.
Price noticed too.
“Updated from what?”
Evelyn hesitated.
Then said, “The paperwork was submitted.”
Walter’s face went still.
“What paperwork?”
Tyler looked at his mother.
She should have stopped talking.
Instead, she doubled down.
“The title-transfer application.”
Price lowered his radio.
“Who submitted it?”
“I did.”
Walter stared.
“You submitted a title transfer for my car.”
“As Tyler’s representative.”
“With a forged bill of sale.”
“It isn’t forged.”
Walter put his cap back on slowly.
“All right.”
Evelyn interpreted his calm as retreat.
She smiled slightly.
“Good. Now maybe we can handle this like adults.”
Walter looked toward Price.
“Sergeant, I need an incident number.”
Her smile vanished again.
“For what?”
Walter answered without looking at her.
“Suspected forgery, attempted vehicle-title fraud, and whatever else your investigators determine applies.”
Tyler stepped backward.
“Mom.”
Evelyn’s face turned red.
“This is an HOA dispute.”
“No.”
Walter looked toward the Camaro.
“This is a sixty-thousand-dollar piece of property someone tried to transfer without permission.”
“The agreement says thirty-two.”
“That makes it worse, Evelyn.”
She stared.
Walter continued.
“You undervalued the car enough to benefit your son and still created a taxable transaction under my name.”
Price nodded slowly.
“We’re going to need statements.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“You cannot possibly be serious.”
“I am.”
“Over a misunderstanding?”
Walter finally smiled.
“Now it’s a misunderstanding.”
She ignored him.
“This entire thing started because Walter promised Tyler first right of refusal.”
Walter shook his head.
“I said if I ever decided to sell, I’d let Tyler know.”
Tyler’s head snapped toward him.
“You did say that.”
“Yes.”