She hugged Mom, shook Dad’s hand, and got straight to work.
“The house is safe,” she said.
Dad nodded.
“The financial power of attorney is broad, but revocable. We can revoke it today.”
Mom looked relieved.
“And the money?”
Inez turned her laptop around.
A spreadsheet filled the screen.
Over fourteen months, I had sent fifty-six thousand dollars.
Not all of it was gone.
But a significant portion had moved through several payments connected to Derek.
Equipment rentals.
A commercial lease.
Materials.
Loan payments.
Insurance.
There was also something labeled CAMBRIDGE RESTORATION ESCROW.
“What is that?”
Inez tapped the line.
“That’s the interesting part.”
“Interesting good or interesting terrible?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Dad leaned closer.
Inez opened another document.
“Three months ago, twenty-eight thousand dollars appeared in this escrow account.”
“From where?”
“Not your money.”
She looked at Dad.
“It came from a client.”
Dad’s face changed.
