It meant exposing his debts, his lies, and his cruelty to judges, reporters, and neighbors all across Columbus.

I pressed the reply key with a steady thumb and typed a single word: Yes.

I placed the white closing envelope in my dark blue wool cardigan pocket, right beside my forty-two-dollar inhaler.

I pulled three yellow legal pads from the bottom drawer of the nightstand.

At the top of the first pad, I wrote David’s full name in clear, round letters.

On the second pad, I wrote Rachel’s name.