Along the bottom edge of the check, in tiny purple type, was one line of text.

It said: Commercial buyout settlement draw four of four.

“Lauren, who typed up this memo line?”

She turned back to the stove and stirred the soup with a wooden spoon.

“The teller typed whatever Frank put on the order,” she said quickly.

“It’s just normal bank wording.”

“It says buyout settlement, Lauren.”

“That doesn’t change the money, Claire,” she said, without turning around.