Every time my brother-in-law drove me home, I would lose consciousness and wake up with unexplained aches and pains. My husband would only laugh and say, “You’re just out of shape, that’s all.” After the fourth ride, I secretly slipped a voice recorder into my purse and said nothing. That night, I listened to a phone conversation between the two of them that revealed my blackouts had never been accidental.

I had never questioned the expense.

Now I remembered a much larger payment.

It had posted the morning after my first blackout.

I told Ellis where to look.

Investigators obtained the records through appropriate legal process.

The payments matched four of the dates on my calendar.

Northstar billed for confidential accompaniment, administrative oversight, and a service whose description changed from month to month.

Its registered agent was a professional office.