Roger was standing beside his Explorer outside a warehouse in Grove City. "To what?"
"Internal fraud review."
Roger said nothing. Amanda continued.
"That is not a finding."
"I understand."
"It means they believe the irregularities justify additional investigation."
"What did they find?"
"We don't have the full report, but the execution records raised questions."
Roger looked across the parking lot. A forklift moved pallets behind an open loading door.
"What kind of questions?"
"Timing. Verification. Contact information. Possibly more."
"Jason's number?"
"It is part of the file."
Roger gripped the phone slightly tighter. Amanda heard the silence.
"Roger."
"Yes."
"Do nothing."
"I know."
"No confrontation. No call to Jason. No message to Kimberly."
"I said I know."
"I'm repeating it because this is where people get stupid."
Roger looked at the Ford. "I've had plenty of opportunities."
"And you've avoided them. Keep doing that."
The call ended.
Three days later, Roger received a message from Kimberly.
"We need to talk without lawyers."
He did not answer. An hour later:
"Please. Ten minutes."
Roger forwarded it to Amanda. She advised against discussing disputed financial matters privately.
Roger replied to Kimberly with one sentence.
"Please communicate substantive matters through counsel."
Nothing else.
The next afternoon, Roger left Collins, Harper and Lane after reviewing another set of disclosures. The parking garage sat two blocks away.
He was halfway there when he heard his name.
"Roger."
He stopped. Kimberly stood beside a silver parking meter. She had been waiting.
Roger felt irritation before anything else. Not fear. Not affection. Irritation.
"You shouldn't be here."
Kimberly walked toward him. "I asked for 10 minutes."
"I answered no."
"Amanda answered."
"I answered."
Kimberly stopped six feet away. Downtown traffic moved behind them.
"You've turned our marriage into a legal file."
Roger looked at her. "No."
"Yes, you have. Everything goes through Amanda. Every dollar is questioned. Every conversation becomes evidence."
Roger said nothing.
Kimberly's voice dropped. "I made a mistake."
Roger almost corrected her. Instead, he waited.
She continued. "Jason was a mistake."
"What about K&W?"
Her expression changed. Small, but Roger saw it.