I spent two days cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Before tasting anything, my mother-in-law m0cked my food and homemade rolls. I smiled, packed every dish into my car, and left. Four hours later, their calls wouldn’t stop.

More than he realized.

Three weeks earlier, Hawthorne Capital had hired me to conduct a financial review of a regional construction company they were considering purchasing.

That company belonged to Eric’s father, Martin.

And Eric was responsible for much of its financial management.

Neither Eric nor Martin knew Hawthorne had contracted me through an independent forensic-accounting firm.

And what I had discovered during the review had raised serious questions.

Invoices that appeared unusually inflated.

Personal expenses categorized as business payments.

Company funds used for loans to relatives.

And nearly $420,000 transferred into an account connected to Brooke’s struggling boutique.

Several of those transfers appeared to have been authorized by Eric.

I had spent the previous week verifying every document before reaching any conclusions.

My original plan had been simple.

After Thanksgiving, I would sit down privately with Eric.

I would show him what I had found.

And I would give him an opportunity to explain.