Then he presented one more thing. I had not known about this one. James had found it through a subpoena of Derek’s phone records, which the panel had the authority to request given the formal nature of the dispute. Three days after the winning numbers were announced, and 2 days before the morning with the suitcase, Derek had made a phone call to the Ohio Lottery Commission’s winner information line.
The call was logged. He had called to ask about the process for claiming a ticket that was unsigned. He had known from the beginning that the ticket was not in his name. He had called to find out whether that mattered. The room was very quiet when James finished. I looked across the table at Derek. He was looking at the table.
Cynthia, who had been allowed to sit beside him at Garland’s request, was looking at the wall. Garland was writing something on his own notepad in quick, tight strokes. the handwriting of a man rapidly revising. Then Barbara Ye asked Derek a question. Mr. Ellis, she said, ‘Can you explain the phone call to our winner’s line on March 9th?’ Garland put a hand on Derek’s arm. Derek shook it off.
I was I found the ticket and I wanted to know what to do. Derek said I didn’t know whose it was. Your mother’s name was on the customer account. Barbara Yei said that information was available through they’s records which were submitted to us prior to your claim. Are you saying you were unaware that the ticket was purchased on your mother’s account? I yes I didn’t know about the account.
Were you aware James said from my side of the table that your mother had played the same numbers for 11 years? Silence. Roland’s birthday. I said quietly. I hadn’t planned to speak, but I did. My birthday, 1968, the year Roland and I were married. I’ve played those numbers every week since the year after he died.
I looked at Derek. You knew those numbers, I said. You grew up in this house. You knew exactly whose ticket that was. He said nothing. His face was a complicated country I no longer had a map to. Cynthia leaned forward suddenly. This is ridiculous,’ she said, her voice cracking with something that might have been desperation or fury or both.