“Every single transfer from the business to your personal accounts is going to be audited.”

Daniel looked at the torn pieces of paper on the desk.

He reached out and touched one of them, as if he could stick them back together.

“We can fight it,” Daniel said, his voice cracking.

“We can say she forced me to sign it.”

“Under duress.”

“I signed it under duress, Dad.”

Richard slammed his hand down on the mahogany wood.

The noise was like a gunshot in the small office.

“Shut up,” Richard barked.

“Just shut your mouth.”

The door to the office opened slowly.

Margaret Carter stood in the doorway, her hand clutching the collar of her beige cardigan.

Her face was pale, her eyes red-rimmed.

“What is going on in here?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“I can hear you yelling all the way in the kitchen.”

Nobody answered her.

Daniel kept his eyes on the floor, his chest heaving.

Margaret looked from her husband to her son, then finally to me.

“Emily, please,” Margaret said, stepping into the room.

“We are a family.”