Richard was sitting at a big corner table with three of his drywall guys.

Foam cups of lukewarm coffee were scattered across the wooden tabletop along with several rolled-up blueprints.

I walked straight to his table and stood behind his chair.

“We need to talk, right now,” I said.

Richard looked up.

His loud laugh stopped short.

He grabbed a rolled-up trade magazine and rubbed the back of his neck with it.

“I’m in a meeting, Ellen.”