Instead, she brought in a preliminary file with my property address printed across the first page.

“We have not finalized or funded anything,” she said at once.

“Your concerns were flagged when you called.”

I asked her to show me every document bearing my name.

She turned the pages carefully, explaining what the bank could release directly and what would need to be obtained through the proper process.

Then she reached a form marked owner acknowledgement.

My signature appeared near the bottom.