"She's a professional con artist?"
"Her own mother just said so. That settles it!"
"Good thing she showed up in time. We almost fell for it!"
Effie's jaw clenched so hard I could see the muscles work. She turned to me.
"Having fun playing me for a fool?"
"Lock her in with Brutus. Let her have all the fun she wants."
The instant I caught the flash of triumph in the woman's eyes—and in Samuel's—I raised my voice.
"I'm not lying! This woman is not my mother! And my name isn't June Delgado."
"My name is Juliana Perry. She doesn't even know my real name. How could she possibly be my mother?"
That was when Effie noticed: the name printed on the diploma and degree certificate in my hands was, in fact, Juliana Perry.
The moment doubt flickered in her eyes, Samuel stepped forward to close the gap.
"What mother doesn't know her own daughter? She's June Delgado!"
"She'll forge documents if that's what it takes to con you."
"One name? Who knows if she just made it up because she's run too many scams and needed to cover her tracks."
I told Effie to send someone to the police records office and check for herself.