“He told me Ethan has found a way to resolve our tax liabilities.”

“When I looked at the spreadsheets, I realized they are stealing from the children’s fund.”

“I confronted Richard tonight.”

“He told me I was overreacting, that it was just a temporary loan.”

“But I know him.”

“If I do not stop this, he will destroy everything we built.”

“I am going to the federal prosecutor on Monday.”

I stopped reading.

The courtroom was so quiet I could hear the scratching of the stenographer’s machine.

“That entry was written on a Thursday,” Miller said.

“What happened on that Sunday, Ms. Bennett?”

“My mother died,” I said.

“The police ruled it a single-car accident on an icy road.”

“But the brakes on her vehicle had been serviced just two days prior by a mechanic paid through the foundation’s discretionary account.”

Richard stood up, his face flushed red.

“This is slander!” he shouted, his voice cracking. “She was unstable!”

“Order!” the judge boomed, slamming the gavel. “Mr. Bennett, sit down or you will be removed.”

Richard’s lawyer pulled him back into his chair by his sleeve.