“Check four-zero-nine,” Nathaniel said, copying the six numbers onto the back of a folded job slip.

“Who was check four-zero-nine made out to?” Brenda asked, lowering her glasses to look at the screen.

“The payee line is smeared on the film,” Nathaniel said.

“The bank will have to pull the original paper from the central vault.”

“Arthur wrote that check three days before he issued the crew layoff notices,” Brenda said.

“He used subcontract funds from my main account to cover it,” Nathaniel said.

“Numbers don’t lie unless someone holds the pencil with intent.”