“I’m offering you a clean break.”

I looked at the blue silk tie tucked neatly into his vest, remembering the night I found the jeweler’s receipt in his desk drawer.

I didn’t say a word.

Julian tugged at his collar, his thumb catching the edge of his tie knot.

“Are you ignoring me now?”

Martha took half a step forward, putting her yellow legal pad between Julian and me.

“My client will state her position before Judge Norris, Mr.