The decision came thirteen days later, in a letter-sized envelope I opened on my kitchen counter with a butter knife because I could not find the letter opener.
The petition for review is denied. The decedent status of the record in question is affirmed. The spousal link is terminated. No further action.
I read it three times, folded it in half, and put it in the drawer with the certified copies.
Then I did the thing I had been putting off. I called Marcus.
"Score's in."
"Well?"
"I won."
He let out a breath. "Elle. Oh, thank God."
"There was a moment where I wasn't sure. Gerald Voss was in the room. He said something that sealed it. He told the hearing officer that his son handed him the ID."
Marcus was quiet. "He sold out his own son."
"He didn't mean to. He was protecting himse
