Colton had not simply hidden invoices.

He had used legitimate bills to obscure transfers that covered his business debts, then told himself he would repay everything before I noticed.

I sat at my desk with enlarged documents glowing on the screen.

Outside the window, leaves were gathering in the gutters.

For years I’d measured progress by what I could see.

That afternoon I measured it by something different: I knew which questions to ask, and I no longer needed anyone’s permission to ask them.

PART 14