Chapter 18: Exhibit A

Nadine's POV

Friday morning, Trevor Dunleavy's bail hearing was the fullest courtroom I had ever sat in.

Dunleavy Wealth clients filled the left side, the old couple in the front row with their folder.

Our side held Thane, Bernie in her church cardigan, Cassidy in a borrowed grey suit and the Marwick finance chief with her arms folded.

Trevor sat at the defense table in a county jumpsuit.

He did not look at me once.

His lawyer was a tall man in a very good suit, smooth and practiced.

"Your Honor, my client is a respected adviser with no record," he said. "These allegations come from a bitter spouse and her employer."

"The state would like to call the forensic auditor," said the prosecutor.

The auditor walked to the stand with a box of files.

She read from the first page, and nobody in the gallery coughed.

When she finished, the judge took off her glasses.

"Counsel, your client's own voice is on a recording saying his wife would take the fall."

"Your Honor, such recordings are easy to fake."

"Then he can explain it at trial," the judge said. "Bail is denied."

The gallery murmured, and the old woman in the front row nodded to her husband.

Then a thin man in the second row stood up with a briefcase.

"Your Honor, I represent Great Lakes Savings. We have a matter on the same docket."

"Go ahead."

"The bank holds a personal guarantee for two point four million dollars, signed by a Ms. Ainsworth. We intend to call it Monday."

Cassidy's hand found mine on the bench.

It was cold and damp.

The judge looked at her paper for a long moment.

"Counsel, the state alleges this signature was obtained on a stack of tax forms under false pretenses."