“I paid through a separate account.”
“Mail?”
“Electronic only.”
“Phone records?”
“Possibly. But Halden’s number wouldn’t identify the case.”
“What about your computer?”
“Password protected.”
“Did your husband know the password?”
“No.”
I paused.
“At least, I don’t think so.”
Ruiz nodded.
“Don’t change any passwords yet.”
I blinked.
“Why?”
“If devices or accounts were compromised, changes can alter what investigators are able to observe. We’ll coordinate next steps.”
My instinct rebelled.
Every account felt exposed.
Every document contaminated.
But she was right.
Preserve first.
Act second.
I nodded.
“There’s something else,” I said.
I told her about Claire.
The legitimate email.
The resignation.
The fake domain.
Ruiz wrote it down.
“Would Ms. Donnelly know about your controlling interest in Apex?”
“Yes.”
“Would she know you planned to leave your husband?”
I hesitated.
“Yes.”
Liam looked at me.
“You told her?”
“She was auditing a company whose chief executive lived with me. I had to explain why access was limited.”
