“He ran out of money to keep up the payments on his hidden debt.

“He pushed your mother into forging a phony power of attorney to drain your military hazardous duty pay.”

Near the bottom of the page she wrote forty-five thousand dollars.

“He used your money to keep his fake mortgage out of default while you were sleeping in a barracks overseas.”

I turned my silver ring against my thumb knuckle again.

“Now I’m home, and he’s got no more of my money left to steal,” I said.

Morales laid her pen down squarely on the yellow pad.