“It stops any officer from trying to pledge company real estate for private loans,” she said.

She tapped her silver pen twice on the laminate edge of the counter.

“It also sets up an immediate legal inventory of every piece of corporate property.”

I walked over to the window with the ocean view.

The tide was rolling in against the stone seawall across the coast road, throwing white spray over the gray wooden railing.

“Did he bring up the fifteen hundred dollars?” I asked.

“He told my secretary you were having a rough week and might be resting at a friend’s place in town,” Margaret said.