“Payout,” Arthur said, patting my knuckles.

“Don’t let them rattle you.

Vance doesn’t know Evans is coming, and Evans doesn’t know Vance is in the county.”

My phone buzzed on the blotter with a text from Sarah: Lily is eating pancakes with syrup.

She is safe.

The chime over the outer office door rang twice.

Arthur stood up slowly, pressing both palms flat on the wood to push himself upright.

Rebecca came in first in her camel-hair coat with horn buttons, followed by a bald lawyer clutching an accordion folder.