“He used your name.”
“That was a mistake.”
“He used your property.”
“That was fraud.”
“He used your reputation.”
“That was stupidity.”
Voss’s eyes sharpened. “You don’t seem surprised.”
“I was given documents this morning.”
“Then you understand why we’re concerned.”
“I understand why you should be.”
He smiled again. “Women like you interest me. You built things. Kept records. Stayed quiet. Then, overnight, you moved with precision.”
“I sold a house I owned.”
“You removed our perceived collateral.”
“Perceived collateral isn’t collateral.”
“No. But perception has value.”
“Not to me.”
Voss slipped a hand into his coat pocket. Ortega shifted. Slowly, Voss took out an envelope. “I’m not here to threaten you. I’m here to ask whether you intend to cover Trevor’s obligation.”
I laughed. The sound surprised even me. Voss waited.
“No,” I said.
“He is your son.”
“Yes.”
“And you’ll let him fall?”
