Richard reached into his breast pocket, took out a silver fountain pen, and pulled off the cap.

He signed his name on the first blue line in a heavy, jagged stroke.

He pushed the pad over to Evelyn, who signed on the second line without lifting her eyes.

Dalton picked up the signed pages, checked every line, and stamped them with his blue seal.

He reached into his jacket pocket, took out a white court order envelope, and laid it right in front of my father.

Richard sat without a word as Dalton handed him the court order for full repayment and the immediate surrender of the keys.