The machine whirred loudly and spat out a small white receipt.

The top line showed my rent check bouncing, exactly as Mr.

Davis had said.

The line above it showed a branch withdrawal of two thousand four hundred and ten dollars.

It was my entire personal savings, drained all at once, down to the last penny.

The transaction code showed it had been done in person at a teller window by a joint account holder.

Gregory was still listed as a cosigner on my checking account from when I opened it as an eighteen-year-old student.