The air in the gallery had gone heavy, and several other prospective buyers had turned to watch.

“Sir,” the sales agent said, his warmth cooling fast, “perhaps a bank routing number, for a direct wire?” Christopher swallowed and produced his third card.

“Use this one.

This is the primary business account.

It will clear.” The manager tapped it to the reader.

The terminal gave a long error tone and displayed a security code.

“Mr.

Lawson,” she said, her voice entirely formal now, “the system reports that this card has been locked.