He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a clean white affidavit form.

“Julian’s defense attorney called my landline twenty minutes ago,” Samuel said.

“He wants to know if you are willing to sign a family statement of leniency before the criminal indictment is processed.”

I looked out the window at the brick storefronts across Maple Avenue.

“He thinks a sister’s signature will reduce his sentence to probation,” Samuel said.

“I won’t ask the court to be cruel to my brother, Samuel,” I said, “but I won’t lie to save him from himself.”

Samuel nodded slowly, put the unsigned affidavit back in his drawer, and turned the brass lock.