Kaplan’s quiet work turned up something solid: electronic signatures had been authorized using Garrett’s own high-level credentials during weeks when Garrett had been physically unable to hold a five-minute conversation, let alone approve a contract.

It didn’t prove who had used the credentials.

But it was more than enough to justify a full forensic audit of nearly eight million dollars in questionable transfers.

“An anomaly isn’t a conviction,” Kaplan reminded us, in his careful way.

“We document every trace first.

We assign blame only when the documents make us.”

Two days after that, Florence turned up at the estate’s security gate, of all places, standing at the iron bars with her handbag clutched to her chest, looking older and more frightened than I had ever seen her.

I went down the drive and out the pedestrian gate to her, and I did not invite her a single step inside.