Marcus had the folder open on his desk before Daniel had finished sitting down.

"She moved fast," Marcus said.

"Hale's office called at eight-fifteen.

He's filing a motion to have the child support arrangement reviewed — his angle is that you've been underpaying relative to your current income."

Daniel stared at him.

"I've been sending more than the court order requires every single month."

"I know.

That's what makes this interesting." Marcus turned a page.

"Her position is going to be that the additional transfers were informal gifts — not child support — and therefore not subject to accounting.

She'll argue the formal payment was always met and the rest was discretionary."

"She told me it was for Lily's shoes.

For a school trip.

For the dentist."

"In writing?"

He thought.

"Text messages."

Marcus looked up.

"Do you still have them?"

"Every one."

"Then we have a problem for her." He leaned back.

"Here's what I need you to understand, Daniel.

Hale is good.

He's going to try to make this about your income versus hers, about Lily's standard of living, about whether you've been a present enough father.

He will make you the story.

That's his job."

"And what's our job?"

"Our job is to make the money the story." Marcus tapped the bank statement.

"This account was opened in Lily's name without your knowledge or consent.

Every payment you made — court-ordered and additional — was redirected into it and withdrawn in cash.

That is not a woman protecting an emergency fund.

That is a pattern."

Daniel was quiet for a moment.

"What does the pattern get us?"

"Potentially?

A full financial audit of how child support has been used for two years.

A modification of the custody arrangement if we can show Lily's basic needs were being neglected while funds were available.

And depending on what the audit turns up —" Marcus paused.

"Possibly a crjme."

The word sat between them.

"She's Lily's mother," Daniel said.

"I know."

"I don't want Lily to lose her mother."

"I understand that." Marcus folded his hands on the desk.

"But Lily has been wearing shoes with a split sole while her mother bought a new handbag.

You didn't create this situation.

You just found out about it."

Daniel looked at the bank statement on the desk.

His name was in the sender column every single month.

Lily's name was on the account.

And every withdrawal had been made by Diane.

"What do I do now?" he said.

"You give me the text messages.

All of them.

And then you go home and you do not contact Diane directly under any circumstances." Marcus closed the folder.

"Let me handle Hale.

You focus on Lily."

Daniel nodded.

He was almost at the door when Marcus spoke again.

"One more thing.

The account — do you know who helped her open it?

A bank won't open a child's account without a parent or guardian present.

You didn't know about it.

Which means someone else signed."

Daniel turned around slowly.

"Her mother," he said.

Marcus nodded once.

"That changes the picture considerably."