‘I’ve told you, Alice, I haven’t touched anything! What can I do to make you believe me?’ Kyle’s voice was pleading as he looked over at his wife, but she wouldn’t return his gaze.

Her arms were crossed tightly across her chest as she stared out the car window at the Mount Gambier country. The paddocks of tall grass rippling in the wind were passing at a hundred and ten kilometres an hour.

‘Alice?’ This time she turned to him, her blue eyes flat and cold, no trace of their usual sparkle. Kyle drew a breath as he remembered the words from his mother: Never get between a Sharpe and their money, son. There’s some truth in their last name.

‘You’ve been skimming money from the bank accounts,’ Alice snapped. ‘Dad told me all about it.’

At a glance, Kyle could see heat flooding her cheeks. She was fuming, and he knew he had two options: he could deny all knowledge, calmly and quietly, or he could get angry.‘Look in my briefcase. The statements are there, along with all the reconciliations. There’s nothing amiss. Oliver’s got this wrong.’ His words were firm and quiet, but anger pulsed through him as he said his father-in-law’s name. Oliver Sharpe was an interfering, obnoxious man who thought he knew better than everyone about everything, and Kyle didn’t like or trust him one bit. He had only ever seen the old man’s aggression aimed at others, but now here it was, coming at him. He shouldn’t have been surprised.

‘I don’t believe you. Dad doesn’t make mistakes like this.’ She shifted in her seat to look straight at him. ‘A hundred grand? In six months? The whole time we’ve been married!’‘And as a senior accounts officer I’d like to think I don’t make mistakes either. If you believe him,’ Kyle snapped, pushing his foot down on the accelerator, ‘why are you here with me, going to the accountant? There must be some doubt in your mind.’ He rearranged his face and softened his voice, with difficulty. ‘I’d hope there’s doubt in your mind. After all, I am your husband—I’d like to think you trust me.’ The hurt was real…