Garrett controlled their household expenses, she said, and she hated bothering him about medical bills.

I had transferred the money that afternoon.

When I later asked whether the appointment had gone well, she hurried to change the subject.

“I have messages,” I told Warden.

“She mentioned needing permission for appointments.

She sent me photographs of bruises once, but said she fell against a cabinet.”

“Please preserve the original messages and don’t alter them,” he said.

Patricia also explained something I desperately needed to hear: a protective order and criminal investigation were separate from a divorce.