After Brenda left, I found a receipt beneath the sideboard.

It was for a consultation with a debt restructuring firm, billed to Brenda personally.

It didn’t prove any crime.

It did suggest she was seeking advice about debts large enough to require professional assistance.

I photographed it and put it aside rather than deciding the whole story from one scrap of paper.

Later Mark left his phone faceup on the coffee table while he showered.

The screen lit with a message preview from Brenda.