“I’m entering my appearance as your attorney of record pro bono,” he said, bringing his hand down flat on the table.

“No fees and no billable hours.

We take this straight to Judge Lawson’s bench.”

A brief moment of relief settled between us in the quiet booth.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

“Don’t thank me just yet,” Arthur said, taking a folded sheet from his suit pocket.

“We still have to prove that forged signature on the March fourteenth addendum.”

He unfolded the sheet and pointed to the line where my name had been copied.