“That’s grand embezzlement,” I said.

“We’re your parents,” she said, her voice shaking as she glanced toward the hallway doors.

“If you turn those military audit logs over to the grand jury, Richard goes to federal prison.”

“I won’t lie to a grand jury for anybody,” I said.

She drew her hand back from my arm, her face going stiff and white.

“You’d destroy your own family name for a brother you walked out on when you joined the military?” she asked.

“I won’t lie for you in court, Mother, but I won’t teach Ethan to hate you either,” I said.