“Are you Clara?” Brenda asked, taking three quick steps across the tile toward me.

“Yes, I am,” I said, stopping next to the wooden brochure rack.

“You have to drop the assault charge right now,” Brenda said, her words tumbling out with no pauses.

“If he’s still in a cell after five o’clock, his corporate office will cancel his contract.”

“He got fired from his corporate office four months ago,” Sarah said, stepping in front of my shoulder.

“My rent is thirteen hundred and fifty dollars,” Brenda said, her eyes jumping between my face and the zipper on Sarah’s coat.