“Once you sign here, Mrs.

Briggs, the earnest money goes out of our escrow account within fifteen minutes.”

I took the pen from him.

The heavy brass barrel felt solid between my thumb and forefinger.

I signed my name along the line, keeping the letters small and even, just the way I used to sign the monthly payroll ledgers at the lumber yard in Tucson.

Vance waited for the ink to dry before he shut the folder.