Geoffrey recovered.
“I mean, is everything okay?”
“We’re fine.”
“Dad—”
“I’ll call you later.”
I ended the conversation.
Patricia looked uneasy.
“He sounded worried.”
“He should be.”
“Robert.”
“I’m not threatening him.”
“I know.”
She sat down.
“I’m wondering whether he knows.”
I knew what she meant.
The documents.
The lien.
The attempted transfer.
We had assumed Geoffrey and Allison were acting together because their finances were connected.
But assumptions were dangerous.
“What if he doesn’t?” Patricia asked.
“Then we find out.”
“How?”
“I don’t know yet.”
The answer came two days later.
Martin called while I was trimming a bougainvillea in the backyard.
“We located Lydia Mercer.”
I set down the clippers.
“And?”
“She no longer works at Allison’s firm.”
“Why not?”
“That is the interesting part.”
I went inside.
Patricia followed me when she saw my expression.
Martin continued.
“Lydia left four months ago.”
