“Nobody’s signing anything,” I said.

I took my cell phone out of my coat pocket, dialed Brenda’s extension, and laid the phone flat on the table right next to Vance’s water glass.

I hit the speaker button.

It rang twice before someone picked up.

“First National, this is Brenda,” her voice came through the little speaker, crisp and clear.

“Brenda, this is Vance from corporate legal,” Vance said, leaning in toward the phone.

“We’re in the middle of closing the Sullivan freight merger.