Carl lifted a wooden corn crate off the ground and set it on the tailgate of his pickup with a dull wooden thud.

“Before this trip, the charges on those extra cards added up to eighteen thousand seven hundred thirty-one dollars,” I said out loud.

Mark stopped mid-step, his hand freezing against his collar.

“That figure includes four thousand eight hundred dollars in lake resort reservations, nine hundred dollars in fuel, and thousands more in fancy restaurant bills over eleven months,” I said.

Grace stopped wiping her hands on her canvas apron and looked across the truck bed at Mark.