Caroline placed a second folder beside the suspicious check, and the look on her face told Margaret the nightmare was far from over. Three weeks before Christmas, Kevin had tried to deposit the check, but the bank froze it after discovering that Robert’s signature did not match the one on file. Instead of contacting Margaret, they called Caroline. Then came the detail that made Margaret’s stomach tighten: Kevin owed nearly forty thousand dollars to dangerous people, and the forged check had only been his first attempt to get money.

Caroline opened the folder. Inside was a listing agreement for Margaret’s own house, carrying another forged signature. Jessica’s email appeared on the cover sheet, a buyer had already been found, and the closing was scheduled for ten the following morning. Margaret stared at the papers in disbelief. Then her phone suddenly began ringing on the table. She looked at the screen and froze. Kevin was calling.

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