“I’m keeping a backup drive in my safe, just in case.”

I hung up and went back to the main checking data.

The sheer number of transactions called for a methodical approach.

I added a new column to the spreadsheet and labeled it nonessential.

Row by row, I flagged the boutique charges and the restaurant bills.

The total passed three thousand dollars for September alone.

By one in the morning I’d reached the middle of October.

Line one hundred and forty-two froze my hand on the keyboard.