“Don’t confront Jason yet.”

By 8:30 that morning, I had Mom, Tyler, and every financial document I could find sitting inside Denise’s office.

Denise spoke to Mom slowly and carefully.

“Did you knowingly give Jason permission to access or manage any of your accounts?”

Mom frowned.

“No.”

“Did he explain that any of the papers you signed could give him that kind of access?”

“No.”

Denise leaned back in her chair.

“Then we’re calling the bank.”

That call changed everything.

Jason had submitted documents requesting access to more than one of Mom’s accounts.

Some of those requests were still being reviewed.

One had already resulted in him being added to an account.

Mom stared at the speakerphone in disbelief.

“Why would he do that?”

I already knew there had to be more to the story.

The answer came that same afternoon.

Jason walked into my house carrying another folder.