And we started slowly and sure enough, he didn't lose any money, I thought, up until a few days ago, when I came home to three phone calls, you know, from my lawyer, from my accountant, from somebody in Palm Beach.

NPR: Client Learns Madoff Returns Worthless

He describes how, to his great alarm, the algae started to spread, slowly but inexorably, choking off all indigenous life in its path.

ECONOMIST: Small things often hold big secrets