For several hours, it appeared that things might finally settle. An independent representative acknowledged Loretta's documentation and promised a written update by the following morning. Martin obtained the settlement administrator's confirmation through official channels. Nina returned to work under temporary supervision from outside the branch. Harlon's desk was sealed for review, and his access credentials were suspended.
Then, just before five, Loretta received an alert that her checking and escrow-linked accounts had been placed under expanded administrative restriction. The notice cited newly received concerns about potentially altered settlement documentation. She read it twice, sitting at the kitchen table with her coat still on. The earlier restraint had been bad enough. This new one was broader and made no reference to the independent review now underway. Her available balance had vanished behind a warning screen.
She called Darius. He answered while he was still meeting with Sarah and Martin. "They've frozen everything," she said. "Not just the check. My ordinary money. I can't even tell what's available for groceries."
Darius stood so quickly his chair struck the wall. "Don't try another transaction until someone confirms the exact restriction and why it was applied. I'm asking outside counsel to look at it right now."
"The notice says fraud. How can they accuse me of fraud after you watched that man destroy my check?"
"They shouldn't make an allegation without a basis. We're going to identify who initiated this and on whose authority."
He turned toward Sarah, who was already opening the controlled access report. The new restriction did not come from Harlon's suspended credentials. It originated with a regional review queue still managed by Pamela Ror's office. A second entry showed that a fraud referral had been transmitted to a local law-enforcement liaison in connection with an allegedly disputed financial instrument.
Martin read the entries and frowned. "This happened after the manager was placed on leave. Whoever initiated it will have to explain the basis."
Darius looked at the clock. "My mother's tax deadline is ten days away."
"That matters," Martin said. "But if this is retaliation, we have to prove it carefully. If we don't, they'll hide behind the fact that some account restrictions are lawful under other circumstances."
At six fifteen a sheriff's deputy knocked on Loretta's front door. She had just finished putting away the dishes when the sound startled her. Through the window she saw a patrol vehicle at the curb and a uniformed man standing on the porch with a slim folder. Across the street, two neighbors emerged from their house and stopped talking when they noticed the vehicle.
"Mrs. Johnson?" the deputy called. "I need to ask a few questions concerning a financial complaint."
Loretta opened the inner door but kept the screen door closed. "Am I under arrest, Deputy?"
"No, ma'am. I'm here to follow up on a referral. I was told there might be a disputed instrument connected to an account review."
"Who told you that?"
"The referral came through our financial-crimes liaison. I'm trying to determine whether there's any need for further inquiry."