I folded the letter into its original thirds, pressing each crease with the side of my finger.

He moved the watch farther from the edge so I could set the letter beside it.

I thanked him for not asking me to pretend the lost years did not matter.

He said he did not have the right to ask that.

His phone rang.

He answered, listened, and told the caller not to send the record to his office but directly to my attorney.

He hung up and said the investigator had requested a copy of a second phone record from Michael’s business.