When an engine fails at thirty thousand feet, you do not panic.

You run the checklist.

“Who notarized the power of attorney?” I asked.

“I don’t know the name,” my father said.

“Luke just said it was a woman Linda met through her gardening club.”

“She has a notary stamp and did it as a favor.”

“They presented it to the branch manager at the downtown office.”

I looked at the transaction history on my screen.

There was a wire transfer listed from yesterday at 11:15 AM.

The recipient was an entity called ‘L&H Holdings LLC.’

Linda and Hannah.

“I see the transfer,” I said.

“It went to a shell company they set up.”

“You need a professional to look into this, Mark,” my father said.

“Do not confront them yet.”

“If Hannah knows you are onto them, she will disappear with the kids and the money.”

“They are scheduled to fly out tomorrow morning.”

“I understand,” I said.

“Thank you for calling me, Dad.”

“Be careful, son,” he said.

“Linda is desperate, and desperate people are dangerous.”

He hung up the phone.