“Yes,” I said evenly. “I’m the one in the file.” Patricia’s smile cracked. Gregory whispered my name like a warning, but Vivienne ignored him and opened her handbag. She pulled out a thin folder with my name on the tab and set it beside my green bean casserole. “My firm spent three weeks on due diligence,” she said. “Your husband told us he was single, and that he owned his company outright.”

Patricia laughed nervously and insisted there had been a misunderstanding. Then the doorbell rang. Gregory went gray as a man in a dark suit stepped inside holding a sealed envelope. “Gregory Whitaker?” he asked. “I’m here on behalf of Ms. Brandt’s attorney.” Gregory’s hand shook as he took it. The whole room fell silent, and Vivienne looked at me and said, “You should hear what else I found.”