He did not say what it was.

He turned his head as Richard Hail stepped into the corridor from table one.

Richard Hail paused beside my shoulder, checking his gold wristwatch with a heavy flick of his wrist.

“Table twenty-two, right?” Richard asked, pointing a manicured finger toward the back wall near the kitchen doors.

“Yes,” I said.

“Your father built an empire in this county,” Richard said, sliding a hand into his tailored trouser pocket.

“Real estate assets, commercial underwriting, high standing in the community,” Richard added, leaning back on his heels.