“And I don’t want the children dragged into the rest of this.”

“Neither do I,” I said.

I finally understood that solving a mystery did not earn me an invitation to parent.

The two problems were connected by the past, but they required different answers.

One involved accountants and lawyers.

The other required time, respect, and the patience to hear no.

I asked Raymond to retain an independent forensic accounting firm and to identify Arthur through legitimate public records.

No surveillance of Savannah.