The number hung in the quiet room like a weight.

How did he get them through a bank without my physical presence, I asked.

“He has a notary on his payroll,” Karina said.

“We have enough to start a file, but we need the original ledger.

If we can get the original books out of his study, we can prove the pattern of forgery.” He keeps the study locked, I said, and he watches me constantly now.

“Then we have to be patient.” She pulled a blue document from her bag, the representation agreement, and said that if I wanted her to act as my formal counsel we would need to sign it somewhere his people could not see me leaving with legal papers.