Two flat black patches had soaked into the dirt, still soft around the edges.

I held the subpoena down at my side and let the paper soak up the damp in the air.

Nine weeks until the hearing.

Twenty-seven hundred dollars before the first expert said a word.

Eleven days of my life spread out for strangers to read.

Cottrell had appraised this very lot in 2019 for a lien review, and Robert had told him the deed was clean.

The grease spots were still on the driveway when the mediation notice came due.