Chapter 7 - THE FIRST MONEY
Trust distributions for Sophie began when she was six months old.
Housing.
Childcare.
Medical care.
Developmental services.
Everything looked ordinary.
Then Detective Ortiz showed me a rent reimbursement.
$4,600 per month.
Address:
My Portland house.
Landlord:
Elmer Stanley.
Signature:
Mine.
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
“I have never charged Dennis rent.”
“How long has he lived there?”
“Four years.”
“Any lease?”
“No.”
The trust file contained one.
Three-year lease.
Then extension.
Rent receipts.
My signature on every quarter.
Total reimbursed:
$176,400.
I had received zero.
Where did the money go?
Account controlled by Dennis.
My house had been earning him rent I never charged.
May you like
That explained why the deed mattered.
The officer asking for documentation at the scene had accidentally touched the financial heart of the case.
