Daniel says it was a gift.”

“Then we start with the papers, not his description of them.”

I told Marcus about the transfers I made every month, more than half my pension, supposedly for property taxes, utilities, and medical coverage.

He asked whether I had ever received statements.

“No.”

“Then we get those too.”

For the first time, the problem in front of me wasn’t a son who refused to listen.

It was a set of facts we could examine.