“I did not know what those documents were, Evelyn, I swear to you.”

“You wanted my husband, and you wanted my company,” I said, my voice flat.

“Do not play the victim now.”

“I wanted the life he promised me,” she said, a tear breaking through her makeup.

“But I did not sign up for prison.”

“If I give you this, your lawyer has to protect me.”

“He has to make a deal with the district attorney before they arrest me.”

Julian stepped forward, his hands clasped in front of him.

“I cannot grant you immunity, Celeste,” Julian said calmly.

“Only the federal prosecutor or the district attorney can do that.”

“But I can negotiate a surrender.”

“If this ledger contains what you say it does, we can offer it as substantial cooperation.”

“It will reduce your exposure significantly.”

Celeste looked at the envelope, then at me.

“Is that the best you can do?” she asked.

“It is the only way you stay out of a federal penitentiary,” I said.

She slowly reached into her coat and pulled out the envelope, laying it on the glass coffee table between us.