Miriam warned me that older records could be incomplete.
Some information might be sealed.
Some might require specific legal procedures to obtain.
I understood.
But I kept searching.
Then Celeste contacted me.
She wanted to meet privately.
I refused.
She sent another message.
I can explain what Mark did.
I’m finished protecting him.
I forwarded it to Miriam.
We agreed that any meeting would take place with counsel present.
Celeste arrived in a dark green dress, carrying a leather briefcase.
She looked nothing like the confident woman who had entered my kitchen.
Her face was pale.
Her hands shook as she poured herself water.
“I made a mistake,” she began.
I said nothing.
“I believed Mark when he told me his marriage had ended emotionally.”
I almost smiled.
“That must have been comforting.”
She looked down.
“He said you were staying together because of his health.”
“And you believed him?”
