I walked over to a velvet sofa near the front windows and sat down.

The deep green cushions felt stiff under my legs.

I stared at my reflection in the dark window glass.

Slow footsteps clicked across the marble floor.

Thomas Gable came out of the back office in a dark gray suit.

He adjusted his suit lapels as he walked toward my sofa.

He wore a silver tie clip that caught the dim light.

“Good evening, madam,” Thomas said.