to cooperate.”

Rachel pressed her lips together.

“Put your mother on the phone.”

“No.”

“Put her on.”

“Rachel—”

“Brandon.”

Several seconds later, Brenda’s voice came through.

“You’ve made your point.”

Rachel stared at her laptop screen.

“No, Brenda. I’m only beginning to understand yours.”

“Enough with the drama.”

“You’re listed as co-owner of a property purchased partly with money removed from my son’s account.”

“It was an investment.”

“Using my child’s money.”

“You and Brandon are married. Stop acting like every dollar is exclusively yours.”

Rachel felt that strange calm return.

“And the mortgage documents signed in my name?”

Brenda paused.

Briefly.

Almost too briefly to notice.

But Rachel noticed.

“I don’t know anything about those.”

“Good.”

“What?”

“That’s helpful.”

Brenda’s voice sharpened.

“Don’t play games with me.”

“I’m not.”

Rachel ended the call.

Then she saved the recording.

California generally required consent from all parties for confidential conversations, and