“Where’d you come up with four thousand dollars in cash in August, Brad?” I asked.

Brad turned around from the sink and took a slow drink of water.

“I already told you.

Kurt gave me an advance on the season.”

“And you kept every last nickel,” I said.

“I managed the property,” Brad said.

His smile didn’t move, but his eyes narrowed just enough to show the edge beneath it.

“You were living in town back then, not paying any attention to a single fence line.”