Both had lawyers, both disputed parts of the allegations, and neither was required to deliver the confession I wanted to hear.

Megan attended with Andrea because the falsified evidence had affected her marriage and reputation.

She sat three rows behind me, holding a folder of documents.

I offered her a seat beside me.

She declined.

Afterward we stood on the courthouse steps while reporters photographed the people coming and going.

I had been a familiar business name in Nashville for years.

Now journalists wanted to know why private investigators, consulting payments and my family affairs were being examined.