“Is everything okay at home, Mariana?”

“I’m handling it,” I said.

Brenda watched me take the drive.

“If you need somewhere quiet to stay downtown while you work this out, the company has an executive apartment on Michigan Avenue.”

“Thanks, Brenda,” I said.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

The Maple Street house was completely silent at nine when I slipped into the little room behind the dining area that we used as a home office.

Down in the den, the low murmur of the TV told me Daniel was watching the evening sports highlights.