“Like here, it would have taken some digging, but not as much as you think. We still would have talked to her after tracking it down, for instance, and by that point we’d learn she didn’t remember calling us. That would have been some cause for concern. We’d have likely questioned her some even if she insisted she hadn’t sold it, because of that forgetfulness. More, if we were convinced that we hadn’t found the thief yet. Say, for instance, you’d bought it, and had a title, or at least a receipt and a check stub.”

“Yeah, but Joey’s so trusting he’d have paid cash,” Becky remarked.

“Are you trying to make this more difficult? Well, I’ll play along; I’m off duty.” She explained. “I still might have been convinced it wasn’t stolen. Whether I was or not, once we called her back, her forgetfulness would lead us to ask if she has someone who helps her make decisions. As happened now, she’d tell us a daughter did, or we’d have just searched the records. We’d have learned about her Alzheimer’s, and the poor choices she’d been making otherwise lately. Someone with power of attorney would have spotted some money deposited in this woman’s account that she couldn’t explain. Even if she just stuffed the money in a mattress, we’d have concluded that she could easily have sold the car, because of the situation. That being that she hadn’t used it herself in years, and that she could have easily tried to sell it. And, the woman’s daughter would have decided it was time to get a guardianship over her anyway, just as she’s doing now.”

D.J. nodded. “Well, we’d have given it back, then, even if she did rightfully sell it.”

“Yeah, we’d never take advantage of someone like that,” Joey added.

“I can tell you care about people. I hope the car you got is running well.” D.J. said it was awesome.

“Thanks for stopping by; glad it all worked out,” Danny said as the officer left.

“Thanks again, Joey. I’d have known you cared, even if you had bought that one by mistake, though,” D.J. told him.

“I know. I’m just glad I can help. I guess I care so much, sometimes I do get carried away, without thinking, though,” he said sadly.

Stephanie said he was really smart. Danny and Jesse agreed, but Stephanie continued, “If she’d stayed longer, I was going to joke that she should help find a few bricks for Kimmy, because Kimmy’s a few bricks shy of a load.”

Danny put an arm around Joey. “Well, you are a lot smarter than Kimmy. And, more importantly, I’m glad I know someone like you, who can help me raise my girls.”

“Thanks,” Joey said, as they all hugged.

That's brilliant, and very inspiring too! Keep up your great writing!