She adjusted her glasses, the gold frames catching the light from the tall windows.

“And unless she is a member of the Illinois bar, she cannot assist you today.”

“I have other counsel,” Callum said, his voice rising a fraction.

“Then they should have been here at nine o’clock,” she said.

She looked down at the ledger Arthur Vance had placed on the table.

The black leather cover was scuffed at the corners, showing grey threads.

“This court has a duty to protect the integrity of its proceedings,” Judge Mallory said.

She picked up her fountain pen.

The gold nib hovered over the blue paper of the order.

“The ledger entries suggest a systematic diversion of assets designed to shield them from the estate division.”

“They are internal corporate transfers,” Callum said.

“They look like fraud, Mr. Prescott,” the judge said.

She pressed the pen to the paper.

The scratching sound returned, rhythmic and slow.

“The court finds that the petitioner has made a prima facie case of asset dissipation.”

She signed her name with a quick, practiced flick of her wrist.