Clara found a forged receipt for forty thousand dollars

papers are officially recorded.”

“So it’s done,” I said.

“It’s done,” she said.

She stood up, smoothing the front of her coat, and gave my shoulder a quick, firm squeeze before walking down the porch steps.

I watched her old blue sedan back out of the driveway, her brake lights glowing red through the dust.

The air had grown cold by half-past five, the continue reading …