recalled, thinner, and carrying a worn leather case against his chest.
“Mrs. Ellison?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Martin Hale.”
“I’m sorry it took me this long.”
Then he opened the case and removed a packet of printed emails.
“The first message was written six years ago,” he said.
“It was sent by Ruth.”
“What did it say?”
Martin’s face tightened.
“It said Victor had made a mistake by protecting you.”
He handed me the packet.
“And it said that if Andrew ever tried to leave the family business, Ruth would
