That is a different kind of charge.”

Claire turned the peppermint over in her fingers.

“Will they believe he did it on purpose?” she asked.

Mark looked at the routing number.

“A dead account with a live apology is hard to call a mistake.”

Claire set the peppermint on the counter without opening it.

“He built that apology out of paper that was worthless before the ink even dried,” I said.

Mark slid the check into a plastic evidence envelope.