“Listen to me! Let me use your account! If you say no, there’s no dinner for you tomorrow!”

Something crashed on the tape.

“You’re my mother! Are you trying to destroy my career? If you don’t sign these checks, I’ll put you in the cheapest rotting nursing home I can find!”

Then Margaret’s voice, thin and weeping. “Marcus, why are you doing these things? Please, stop.”

“Shut up and sign.”

The audio cut to dead air.