“That’s what receivership means,” I said.

“Carl is filing for full financial restitution,” Mark said.

“If you push that through, the state will force the sale of the Elm Street house to pay you back.”

He looked down at his bare wrist.

“I’ll have nothing left,” Mark said.

“I’ll be bankrupt and homeless.”

I thought about the fake roof repair invoices he had handed me in my own living room.

“You let Eleanor cry in the driveway last Saturday,” I said.