His shout pulled every shopper nearby to look over, and within seconds people had crowded in three deep around the service counter, pointing and whispering.
"That's her, huh. Looks so honest, and she went and stole money."
"At her age too. Couldn't find something better to do than steal?"
"I heard it was thirty grand. That takes some nerve. Wasn't she afraid of getting caught?"
I said coldly, "Manager Whitney, I didn't come here to pay anything back."
"I came to set the record straight. Who actually stole that money, who framed me, we're going to settle it right here in front of everyone."
Otis sneered. "Set it straight? What's there to say?"
"The evidence is solid. You stole it. Don't think you can stand here and make a scene!"
"Security, get her out of here. Don't let her bother the other customers!"
Two guards came over and reached out to grab me.
I raised my voice. "I'd like to see who dares lay a hand on me!"
"Anyone touches me today, I'll drop right here on this floor."
"Otis, you've got something to hide, that's the only reason you won't let me speak. Isn't that right?"
Otis's face changed. "What are you spouting? What have I got to hide? Don't stand here slinging mud at me!"
I stared straight into his eyes and said coldly, "Whether there's something to hide, you know that better than anyone."
"You said the cameras were broken, no evidence. Funny thing is, I brought my own."
Otis froze for a second, then curled his lip and scoffed. "What evidence could you possibly have? I think old age has muddled your head."
The customers around us started talking too.
"Let her speak. Let's hear what really happened."
"Right, what if the woman really is being wronged."
"Manager, let her show the evidence. If she really did steal it, we'll help you tear into her too."
Seeing the crowd all take that line, Otis had no choice but to bite the bullet. "Fine! I'll let you show it!"
"I'd like to see exactly what evidence you can come up with!"
"If you can't produce it, or it's faked, I'll have the police haul you off on the spot!"
I pulled out the USB drive and gave it a little shake in my hand. "Evidence this important, we wait until the police get here to look at it."
"So a certain someone doesn't get desperate and destroy it right in front of us."
Otis's eyes flickered, but he forced himself calm. "Quit smearing people! Once the police are here, I'll see how you keep up that mouth of yours!"
More and more people packed in around us until the aisle was jammed solid.
A few of the regulars quietly tugged at my sleeve. "Ma'am, if you really didn't take it, just say so plain. Don't let them pin this on you."
"You're at an age where you can't be carrying a black mark like this."
I nodded at them. "Thank you, dear. Don't worry, it'll be clear today for sure."
In the middle of all the commotion, Rex came strolling in from outside. Seeing so many people crowded around the counter, he stopped short. "Otis, what's going on? Why's everybody bunched up here?"
The moment Otis saw him, his face went another shade paler. He shot Rex a warning look and dropped his voice. "What are you doing here?"
"Never mind that. Go wait in the back stockroom. Don't add to the mess out here."
Rex didn't catch on. He kept looking my way and drawled, "Isn't that the old lady who stole the money? What's she doing back here? She's got the nerve to come make trouble?"
I looked at him and let out a cold laugh. "Rex, you came at just the right time. Saves the police the trouble of hunting you down later."
The grin froze on Rex's face and drained white. "You... what do you mean?"
I folded my arms and said coldly, "You'll find out in a minute."
Otis jumped in fast to smooth it over. "Don't listen to her nonsense. She's out of her mind. Get to the back, now!"
Right then a siren rose from far off and grew louder, and two officers in uniform walked into the store.
"Who called this in? What's the situation?"
Otis rushed forward, all wounded innocence. "Officers, I'm the one who called! Thirty thousand of our store's takings was stolen, and the suspect is her, Ina Dickerson. She's our night-shift cashier, the prime suspect, and now she's come into the store to cause a scene and disrupt our business."
One of the officers turned to me, his tone even. "Ma'am, is that how it happened?"
I shook my head and handed over the USB drive along with the little notebook I kept my accounts in. "Officer, he's framing me. The one who actually stole the money is his brother-in-law, Rex Perry. There's the full footage on here, plus my daily reconciliation records. All of it proves I'm clean."
