“Anyone else have permission to drive it?”

“Sure, my sisters, but I’ve checked with all of them, and none have touched it.” As much as she wanted to stay as professional and clinical-sounding as the sergeant, a thread of her anger snuck out. “They also aren’t the ones who are going to need bail money over the next day or two.”

The mention of money made her head snap up, and she rushed back to where she’d dropped her backpack on the kitchen counter. Yanking out her wallet, she quickly checked inside and bit back a snarl.

“All the cash in my purse—about eighty dollars—and our business ATM card are missing. I’m going to pass you over to Cara so she can answer your questions while I call my bank.” She and Cara exchanged phones, and Molly hurried to find the bank’s phone number. As the automated answering system’s spiel began, she resisted the urge to sink down onto the kitchen floor and curl up in a ball.

She knew, deep in her gut, that this was only the tip of the iceberg. Things would only get worse from here.

* * *

“What’s the total loss?” Even though Molly asked the question, she wasn’t really sure she wanted the answer. Just a day ago, she’d been blissfully ignorant about what Jane had been planning, and she wished she could go back to that time…mainly so she could hide her keys and wallet somewhere that Jane or one of her felonious buddies would never find them. After spending hours trying to sort out the mess their mother had made, all five sisters had gathered around the dining room table to hash out the next steps of their damage-control plan.

Cara and Norah tipped their heads together, both peering at the spreadsheet Norah had whipped up once she’d gotten home and been apprised of the situation. “Sergeant Blake filed the stolen vehicle and burglary report and put out a BOLO for your car, but it still hasn’t been found. We’ve initiated the insurance claim,” Norah said.

“The bank’s canceled your card and started an investigation,” Cara continued from where Norah had left off. “We’ll probably be reimbursed for the purchases—fifteen hundred at Walmart and nine hundred at Tiny’s Automotive Repair—but the business is out the four hundred withdrawn from the ATM this morning, plus the cash taken from your purse…and all the hassle and aggravation.” Cara gave Molly a shaky attempt at a sympathetic smile. “It doesn’t look like anything else is missing from the house—that we’ve noticed, at least.”

“Okay.” Inhaling a breath, Molly blew it out in a long sigh. “This is a four-hundred-and-eighty-dollar life lesson, then. I’m voting that we learn from this and never let Mom move back in, no matter how guilty she tries to make us feel. Who’s with me?”

“I am.” Norah was the first to agree. “We’ve given her too many chances and too much money already. We’re the ones who paid off the mortgage on this house, and we should get to decide who stays here.”