“Hi, Ethan,” I said.

“Look, we need to have a serious talk,” Ethan said.

His voice had a hard, rigid edge I hadn’t heard in years.

I could almost see him rubbing the back of his neck in the living room of his condo.

“I’m listening,” I said.

“George just called me from the estate,” Ethan said.

“He says you were making trouble with the vendors today.”

I touched my collarbone.