He wore a dark blue suit I had bought for him two Christmases ago.

He kept his eyes fixed on the mahogany table in front of him, refusing to look in my direction.

His defense attorney, a tall man with silver hair, was busy organizing manila folders.

The prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Marcus Vance, walked over to me.

“We are going to start with your testimony, Natalie,” Vance said.

“Keep it dry. Keep it factual.”

“I know the drill,” I said.

I walked to the witness stand, my heels clicking against the linoleum.

I took the oath, my right hand steady in the air, my left hand resting against my side.

I sat down in the wooden chair and adjusted the microphone.

“State your name and occupation for the record,” the clerk said.

“Natalie Brooks,” I said. “I am a former financial fraud attorney.”

Vance walked to the center of the well.

“Mrs. Brooks, let’s begin with the trust accounts,” Vance said.

“Can you describe the structure of your family’s estate trust?”

“The trust was established by my grandfather,” I testified.