“Patricia called his office four times before eight.”

Helen put her plastic cup of iced tea down on the table with a firm click.

“She wants to starve us out before May fourteenth,” Helen said.

“David said he couldn’t risk corporate getting dragged in,” I said.

I took my blue mug out of the box and put it on the counter.

“He walked me all the way out to my car.”

Helen got up slowly, bracing one hand on the edge of the table to hold herself steady.