Arthur opened a second folder.

His hands, I noticed, were perfectly steady, and I understood that the steadiness was costing him a great deal.

“Two weeks ago,” he said, “the corporate accountant flagged an unusual inquiry that had come through Marcus’s office.

A request for a life insurance valuation.

On Valeria.” He looked at me, and then at his son.

“Specifically, a request to determine what would happen to the trust disbursement — how much capital would consolidate under the surviving spouse’s control — if a spouse were to pass away prior to the final audit.”