Chapter 4

The California sun had just begun to warm my skin when Mrs. Winters approached my bungalow, her normally composed face creased with concern. She carried a pristine white envelope between her fingers as if it might bite.

"Miss Sterling, this arrived by courier this morning."

I recognized the federal seal immediately. My stomach dropped as I took the envelope, the paper suddenly heavy in my hands. Inside was a subpoena compelling me to appear in Manhattan Federal Court in three days' time.

"This is impossible," I whispered, scanning the document that accused me of involvement in an art forgery scheme—specifically,…