Gertrude was protecting the family’s interests.”

Rosalyn was quiet for a long time.

She had spent months, I would learn, keeping herself between her two sons, believing a mother’s whole job was to keep the peace no matter what.

And then she said the thing none of them expected.

“If you’ve done nothing wrong, Douglas, then let the auditors look at every file.”

“You’re taking sides against your own son?”

Her eyes filled, but she didn’t look away from him.