He pulled a folded agreement out of his jacket and spread it on the hood of his car.

“Just sign this paper, Samantha, and we can both walk away from this nightmare with our dignity still intact.”

The paper was warm from his jacket.

I turned to the second page.

The clause sat beneath the signature line in the same small type as everything else.

It released Gregory Palmer, personally and on behalf of every corporate entity, from any and all claims arising out of the marriage.

“If your father acted alone,” I said, “why does he need a release?”