Vance.”

Arthur leaned forward slightly, resting his palms on the back of the empty chair next to Gerald.

“Here’s your money, Gerald,” Arthur said.

“Your leverage over this family ends tonight.”

Gerald turned his head to look at the six men seated around table one.

Mr.

Henderson, who had kept his commercial property insurance with Gerald for twenty-two years, looked down at his dessert plate and would not meet Gerald’s eyes.

Beside him, the county treasurer quietly shifted his chair three inches away from Gerald.