Outside, Arthur Pendelton was standing at the top of the concrete steps.

He had his car keys in one hand and his heavy palm resting flat on his belly.

His linen suit was creased at the elbows, and he looked smaller than he had in his office two days before.

As we stepped across the threshold, Arthur moved forward and cleared his throat.

“Ona,” he said.

His voice was hoarse, like dry paper sliding over a desk.

“If we could just step into the pastor’s study for ten minutes, I can explain the legal structure of the 1971 agreement.”