The response came in pieces: a billing entry, an instruction memo, an archived correspondence index.

Several pages remained unavailable, but enough emerged to trace the letter to a lawyer employed by a Calloway family holding company.

The memo listed Constance as the person authorizing the expenditure.

More troubling was the note beneath it: Recipient should understand family’s final position.

Principal is not to be interrupted during acquisition window.

Preston stared at the sentence.

“Principal means me.”

“Likely.