“Would you be willing to speak directly with their representative while we are here?” the officer asked me.

“Yes, please put her on,” I replied.

A moment later, a very composed female voice replaced the officer on the phone line.

“Mrs.

Thornton, my name is Valerie Stone,” she stated clearly.

“Who hired your firm to come to my house?” I asked immediately.

There was a short pause before she answered.

“We were retained by a law firm representing the estate of Madeline Thornton.”