pposed to be a place of quiet ce

supervisor, retirement beckoned, a future

en surprisingly insisten

id, his voice smooth. "With the baby coming,

oe, his pregnant wife, see

the counter, ready to

Sarah, typed my details into

ere seems to be

ue? Wha

een active and payments have been directed to

sical blow. Sheila Dixon. M

at's impossible. Ther

to be in order, signed off by... Mr. Mark Vance, citi

rt? Sheila w

the paperwork clutched in my hand,

I heard voices from Kevin's old

just needs it more, Kev. Eleanor has us, sh

ghtly. "Your mother can be a bit selfish about money some

elfish? My money, fu

pen. Mark and Kevin

ay, Mark?" My voice

ed. "Eleanor, you weren'

stealing my pension for She

d. "Mom, what are you talking about? Dad he

ghed. "She's your father's le

Eleanor, don't be dramatic. It was a tem

thout my knowledge?

took care of it. If you make a fuss, you'll

t hung in

HR department and filed a formal fraud complaint with

e turned purple. "You did

ch. "It's my

small, rundown apartment Sheila

was reclining on a shabby sofa, a picture of f

aid, her voice weak. "S

" I said. "I know

through the door. He

e you doing here,

and shoved me hard. I stumble

her chest. "Oh, Mark, d

orward. "Dad!

whimpered, looking at Mark with tear-fille