For Seven Years I Sent Forty Thousand Dollars Every January, Until Emma Finally Spoke

Carl looked up from his legal pad.

“While Howard is in Oakridge, I’m drafting two legal filings for the county clerk.”

“Which ones?” I asked.

“A petition for temporary legal guardianship of Emma,” Carl said.

“And a motion for an emergency court order requiring Mark to produce every bank statement for Stevens Holdings LLC.”

“Will a judge grant that?” I asked.

“If Howard’s photos show Mark is using forty thousand dollars a year to keep up a private boat while Emma lives in Oak Creek, any judge in this county will sign that order in ten minutes,” Carl said.

“Listen here,” I said.