“Because he took his name off without ninety days’ written notice, the lease is in default and our eighteen-hundred-dollar security deposit is forfeited.”

“He did it on purpose so you’d be stuck paying damages or lose your deposit,” Paige said.

She unbuttoned her heavy winter coat and took her phone out of her leather bag.

“He’s going to tell the landlady you trashed the apartment before you moved out,” Paige said.

“The apartment is spotless,” I said, unlocking the deadbolt with the brass key I still had.

“That’s why we’re recording every square inch of this place right now,” Paige said, setting her phone camera to high resolution.