Afterward, Anita stayed behind.

“You know,” she said, “this might have been caught sooner if you had allowed more people to question Vivian.”

“I know.”

“Especially your wife.”

I looked at Meredith, who was gathering her notes at the other end of the table.

“I know that too.”

As we left, Meredith slipped her hand into mine.

It was the first time she had done so openly inside the company headquarters.