Twelve Months Later, Ethan Came Back With a Sleeping Newborn and a Broken Suitcase

“What house?”

Richard said, “There is no house.”

The baby fussed.

Ethan put the green pacifier back in her mouth.

Before Richard could say another word, Marcus came in from the hallway with his briefcase in one hand.

He kept one folder closed under his arm.

He set the briefcase on the table, opened it, and squared a stack of copied ledgers with two fingers.

“At nine fifty-two this morning,” he said, “this audit became a criminal matter.”