She traced the pattern in her mind: doctors’ visits timed with med changes, notes citing Mabel’s “episodes” to justify oversight. Staged confusion, subtle isolation—lawyers distanced, accounts rerouted. Lauren sensed the cold design, printing every discrepancy, the scarf’s note her compass through the web.
At the station, she spread printouts, the scarf, and the note across the desk. “Identity fraud and elder financial abuse,” Lauren said evenly, facts stacked like stones. The officer’s eyes narrowed at the timelines, photos mismatched. “Solid case,” he murmured, already reaching for the phone.