Sterling turned. “Pack your desk, Marcus.” The front door shut behind him.

The relatives grabbed their coats, sensing the ship going down. “You disgust me,” Aunt Susan said, stepping around Marcus like he was something spilled.

Within a minute the family had cleared out entirely.

Only Mr. Harrison, Marcus, and I were left.

“We’re not finished,” Mr. Harrison said. He took a yellowed envelope out of his briefcase, and it carried a faint smell of lavender. “Margaret instructed me to open this only if Marcus showed no remorse whatsoever.”

Marcus looked up, his face wet.