The sun rose over the blue-gray water, catching the white tops of the waves as they rolled in toward the concrete seawall.

The sea air was cold and damp on my skin.

The iron railing felt cool beneath my hands.

At twenty past eight, Margaret called my landline.

She didn’t begin with small talk or comments about the weather.

“The final title deed transfer cleared at the county office forty minutes ago, Robert,” Margaret said.

“All six hundred forty thousand dollars?” I asked.

“The electronic wire hit the Mitchell Family Holdings corporate account at ten past eight,” Margaret said.