It included former employees, agents, and consultants.

Four thousand two hundred dollars was due Friday.

The school had sent the reminder on Monday, and Sarah had put the envelope in my hand at six in the morning with a quiet sigh through her nose.

I could sign.

I could take the money, cash the check, and pay the tuition by noon tomorrow.

Gavin would write the letter.

Gavin would also tell every hiring manager in town that I had walked out on a client pitch to sit on a highway shoulder, and the letter would be worth about as much as the paper it was printed on.