“The forty-thousand-dollar deposit check Gerald wrote on Thursday was officially returned to his office account at midnight,” David said.

“Which leaves him eight thousand dollars short for the facility lease,” I said.

“Howard gave him until noon on Monday to pay the rest in certified funds,” Clare said.

She looked up at the quiet stone front of the country club, where the main ballroom windows were dark and the outside floodlights had been shut off for the night.

“I booked a flight to Saint Louis for July twelfth,” Clare said.

“Flight six fourteen out of Columbus,” I said.