“I just want to be sure,” I said.

Gregory stopped at the front door and turned around.

The friendly mask slipped for just a second.

“Let’s just sign this little paper and put the red stamp nonsense behind us,” he said.

My hands went completely still.

I gripped the door frame.

At the diner, he had shown me a bank letter saying that account was closed ten years ago.

He had laughed in my face and told me the balance was zero.