I am so sick and tired of hearing stories like this. You see it in the news all the time about how honorable people work hard and do the right thing and then others think they have a right to walk in, take what they want and make it hard for the good to go through life with any sense of peace. Brian, you and your landlord should not have to go through this trauma.

Does your landlord know the person who had possession of the check? Surely the landlord will understand and even if you haven't received the money order back in time, they will let you wait to receive the funds.

May God be with you through this time.