“My contract auditing income was three thousand four hundred dollars last month,” I said.

Julian took a folded printout from his coat and laid it on top of the legal papers.

“Your personal checking account at Oak Creek Community Bank had eight hundred twelve dollars in it at noon,” Julian said.

“Every joint account and individual sub-account linked to my tax ID number has been frozen by court order.”

Eleanor took a small sip from her teacup and set it back on the saucer without a sound.

“This whole pregnancy has been an extortion scheme from the moment you started asking questions about the foundation ledgers,” Eleanor said.