Without my credit line to hide behind, Grover’s debts came due at once, and the bank would not drop the fraud charges once the forensic audit showed my forged signature.

Facing felony counts, he took a plea — long probation, restitution that would follow him for the rest of his working life.

Mildred’s foundation dissolved inside two months; once Alton handed the audited files to the board, the state opened a criminal inquiry into the missing millions.

To keep his wife and Roxanne out of prison, Alton did a hard and honorable thing: he liquidated his own portfolio, sold the golf estate he’d loved, and paid back every dollar taken from the children’s charity.

That last part is the only piece of the whole affair I let myself feel good about.

The money went back.