Marlene, the investigators determined, had been lied to by her own son about who actually owned the property, and she was cleared of any criminal charge.

I took no satisfaction in any of their sentences, which surprised me.

I had expected to feel triumphant.

Mostly I felt tired, and grieved, and relieved, in roughly equal measure.

Colette filed for divorce well before Shawn was ever transported to the state correctional institution.

But I will not pretend our own wound closed cleanly just because his crimes were punished.

She had signed her name to papers she never read because trusting her husband had been easier than facing what trusting him might cost.