Unlike Ruth, Dolores had no mortgage.
She lived on a small retirement income.
Her children lived several states away.
And she'd spent nearly a month believing she might lose the house where her husband died.
Ruth asked whether she had a lawyer.
Dolores said no.
Ruth looked toward the window.
Bear was outside helping Dean repair the old garden gate.
She watched him for a moment.
Then spoke.
“Write down this name, dear.”
She gave Dolores the contact information for an elder-law assistance service Nora had recommended, explaining that the organization could assess whether it could help or refer her to appropriate counsel.
Then she added, “And please don't sign anything else without getting independent advice.”
Dolores began crying again.
“I'm so frightened.”
Ruth swallowed.
“I know.”
For a moment, she remembered herself standing beside the bikers' booth in Maggie's Diner.
Her hands trembling.
Her heart pounding.
Asking four strangers to become her family for one afternoon.
Then she said something she hadn't expected to say.
“Listen to me, Dolores.”
The other woman became quiet.
“You're not foolish because somebody took advantage of your trust.”
Ruth's eyes filled.
“You have a right to ask questions. And you have a right to be heard.”
When the call ended, Ruth remained seated.
Then she stood and walked slowly toward the porch.
Bear looked up.
“Everything okay?”
She nodded.
Then shook her head.
He put down the screwdriver.
“What's wrong?”
Ruth explained.
Bear listened carefully.
Then his expression grew serious.
“Another woman?”
“Yes.”
“Same company?”
“Maybe.”
She looked toward the creek.
Then whispered, “How many others?”
Bear didn't answer.
He didn't know.
But he understood the question.
And when Nora received the information that afternoon, she recognized that Ruth's case might be part of something larger than a disputed deed.
Within a month, investigators examining the suspected identity misuse identified several property transactions involving older homeowners who disputed the circumstances of their purported sales.
The cases weren't identical.
Different homes.
Different dates.
Different companies.
Some owners had signed legitimate agreements but believed important terms had been misrepresented.
Others denied signing the documents presented as authorization for property transfers.
A few had received payments.
Several hadn't.
Investigators couldn't assume every questionable transaction resulted from the same scheme.
But certain patterns were significant.
The same senior-assistance marketing operation appeared in multiple files.