“The date at the top of page two is backdated to June ninth,” Marcus said.

“That’s two days before you threw the iron skillet.”

“I don’t handle legal dates,” Vanessa said, her voice climbing to a high, breathless squeak.

“Look at the notes in the margin on page three,” Marcus said, moving closer to the witness box.

“Are those your mother’s handwritten notes telling the lawyer to backdate the release?”

Vanessa turned her head toward the front row of the gallery, where Patricia was sitting.

Patricia looked away toward the tall arched windows on the south wall and kept her face perfectly still.