“Pay a smaller fee.

Keep the difference.”

“And wait another month for a hearing.” I got to my feet.

“File the petition.”

He gave one nod.

“I’ll phone you by four.”

I left the title on Arthur’s desk and drove to the fire station on Market Street.

Paul Vance, a family friend who had been running ambulance calls in Millfield for fifteen years, was standing by the ambulance tapping his heavy pen against his clipboard.