The clerk adjusted her glasses and typed my vehicle identification number into her terminal.

Her keys clicked rapidly in the quiet room.

“The title is completely clean,” she said, looking back at the screen.

“Iris Elizabeth Collins is listed as the sole owner.

The bank’s lien release was recorded three years ago.”

“If an out-of-state family member files a stolen vehicle report in Oregon, what happens here?” I asked.

The clerk stopped typing and turned toward me.

“Is their name on this title?”