“You could have written one letter.”

“I know that too.”

I looked away toward the portrait.

I wanted the satisfaction of being proved right, but it felt hollow beside the cost.

Margaret reached into the folder and removed a copy of an acknowledgment.

Daniel’s signature was visible beneath the printed text.

“William’s attorney obtained this through an authorized records request,” she said.

“When I saw it, I realized I couldn’t keep accepting Daniel’s explanation without checking.”