Eleanor had researched Sarah’s estate before Oliver introduced himself to me.

They’d discussed the paid-off house.

The forty-thousand-dollar trust.

Oliver’s debts.

They’d discussed convincing me to combine finances.

Then selling the property.

One conversation included a chilling calculation.

The house was estimated to have approximately ninety thousand dollars in available value or equity.

A figure remarkably close to Oliver’s ninety-four thousand dollars in judgments.

Another conversation concerned Harry’s proposed boarding school.