I laid my palm flat over the open page of the high school notebook.

“Friday the eighth,” Evan said into the phone.

“November eighth at five o’clock.

Not one hour later.”

He listened for twenty seconds without a word while the voice on the line answered.

“I understand the risk,” Evan said softly.

“Have the final closing papers ready to sign by noon.”

He ended the call and set his phone down next to his computer mouse.