“Has Arthur turned in the final transfer deed to this office yet?” I asked.

“He brought a preliminary draft to my clerk at nine this morning,” Harold said.

“He asked for a rush seal before the two o’clock board meeting.”

“Did you give him the seal?” Wade asked.

Harold took a heavy brass stamp from his top desk drawer and set it on an ink pad.

“Not yet,” Harold said.

“And I won’t be giving it today.”

He opened a thick manila folder and stamped SUSPENDED across the front cover in dark red ink.