She paused before saying the next part.

“You have no legal liability to the lender at all.

If the monthly payments stop, the bank comes after Margaret, not you.”

“Two days ago she asked me for an advance,” I said.

“Don’t give her one more dollar,” Sarah said.

“This afternoon I’m pulling the complete deed history from the county recorder’s office to check the title.”

“Why would the title be any different from the mortgage?” I asked.

“In Cook County, people sign property papers without reading them constantly,” Sarah said.