David had recently hired a carpenter to install a sturdy new lock on his home office door while I was away at work.
A few days later, I found a glossy business card slipped inside the pocket of his favorite winter coat.
The card belonged to a local attorney who specialized in legal guardianship and adult estate law.
When I asked him about it, David calmly claimed the lawyer was helping one of his elderly patients plan for the future.
I trusted him completely and believed his explanation without another thought.
On that fateful Tuesday evening, I pulled into my usual neighborhood gas station to fill my tank.
As the fuel pumped, I noticed a very thin teenage boy sitting quietly on the concrete next to the ice machine.
He wore a faded jacket and kept a worn canvas backpack held tightly between his knees.
He stood up slowly and walked toward me with cautious, hesitant steps.
The young man asked if he could borrow my phone for just a moment to call his aunt.
I thought of my own son away at school and gladly handed the device to him.
When he handed the phone back, he thanked me politely and said his aunt was on her way to pick him up.
Then he glanced toward the busy entrance of the parking lot and stepped a bit closer to me.
He told me in a very serious voice to please wait a moment before getting back into my car.
