And I turned, and I walked back down the cobblestone drive toward Eric’s car, and I did not look back, and behind me I left the ruins of a great deal of arrogance cooling in the morning air.

Chapter 16 — By Six O’Clock

By six o’clock that evening it was done.

Private security contractors hired by Sterling Holdings had changed the lock mechanisms on the wrought-iron gates and on every outer door of the estate, so that the great stone house stood sealed and dark and, for the first time in six years, indisputably and only mine.

The gold-lettered sign was gone from its easel; I do not know who removed it, but it was gone.

Stephanie Vance’s forged second mortgage was formally turned over to the federal financial-fraud investigators, and the machinery that handles such things began to turn, without any further help from me.