“Three days,” he said.

“Four at the very most.”

“That’s what you said last time and it was nine.”

“Last time was Vancouver, and the permits fell apart, and I —” He stopped.

He had been about to explain zoning variances to a nine-year-old, which was what he did when he was in the wrong and did not want to be.

“You’re right,” he said instead.

“Last time was nine days.