“She paid my firm to build an iron wall around your mother’s settlement.”

Mr.

Miller picked up the muddy blue passbook and turned to the last page.

He stared at the faded red stamp as if it were a priceless historical artifact.

“Your grandmother was a remarkably stubborn woman,” Mr.

Miller said.

“She knew exactly how to tie up money so tightly that no amount of legal maneuvering could shake it loose.”

“Fraud involving a protected trust requires a formal internal review by our corporate compliance division.”