Six months of the law grinding forward, patiently, entirely by the book, had come down at last to three pieces of paper.

“Tell me,” I said.

Chapter 26 — The Queen of Her Home

“Julian accepted a plea agreement,” Arthur said, “rather than face a jury.

He pleaded guilty to felony exploitation of an elderly individual.” He laid out the terms: a suspended sentence, five years of strict probation, hundreds of hours of mandatory community service, and a court order for full financial restitution, every dollar to be paid back.

“And his professional license,” Arthur added, “was revoked by the state board.