“I’ll get this sorted out with the clerk on Friday,” Daniel said.

He didn’t look my way as he zipped the case closed.

“I need the car Thursday for my dental appointment,” I said.

“I can drop you off on my way to the office,” Daniel said.

“It’s no trouble at all.”

He picked up his briefcase, went into his home study, and closed the door.

I washed the rest of the dinner forks, wiped down the counter, and went out the back door to the casita.

At nine the air outside had dropped to ninety-two degrees.