Vanessa’s chair scraped against the courtroom floor.

Daniel turned toward her so quickly that I almost smiled.

Almost.

What I pulled out was not a weapon.

It was a small black flash drive.

Then I placed a second one beside it.

Then a third.

Curtis Hale, their attorney, leaned toward Daniel.

“Did you know about those?”

Daniel did not answer.

Judge Mercer’s eyes moved from the drives to my face.

“What exactly have you brought, Mrs.

Vance?”

“Copies, Your Honor.”

“Copies of what?”

“Bank records.

Audio recordings.

Security footage.

Medical reports.

Property filings.

And several documents I believe Mr.

Hale may want to see before he makes another representation concerning my mental competence.”

That got the attorney’s attention.

Hale straightened.

“I object to the implication—”

Judge Mercer lifted one finger.

“You’ll have an opportunity, Mr.

Hale.”

The room became very quiet.

I had spent my life watching people lie about money.

They always imagined the important moment came when they hid the money.

It didn’t.

The important moment came later, when someone asked them to explain it.

Money leaves trails.

So do lies.

Daniel stared at me.

For the first time since he was a boy, I saw something in his face that had been absent for years.

Uncertainty.

I turned to Judge Mercer.