“Avery,” he said, his tone dry and measured.

He set his leather binder on the edge of Walter’s desk and carefully tapped his heavy brass pen against its dark leather cover.

“Victoria called my home office at six fifteen this morning,” Vance said softly.

“She told me you were ready to sign the cross-collateral agreement for Brandon’s loan.”

“She put the gold binder in front of me,” I said.

“Did you sign page twenty-two?” Vance asked.