“No,” Nathaniel replied.

“The board is at home in bed.”

“I needed you here, in this room, where you couldn’t run to your lawyers.”

Arthur tried to laugh, but it came out as a dry cough.

“This is kidnapping, Nathaniel.”

“You can’t lock me in your office.”

“The security system is programmed for a drill,” Nathaniel said, tapping a key on his sleek keyboard.

“No one enters, and no one leaves until I enter the override code.”

Through the narrow gap in the study door, I watched Arthur’s face pale.

My heart hammered against my ribs.

Ruby pressed closer to my side.

Her small breathing was shallow and quick.

I kept my arm wrapped tight around her shoulders.

I wished I could shield her from the rot in this room.

“Why Claire Ellis?” Nathaniel asked again, leaning forward.

“She is a tenant,” Arthur said, his fingers twitching on his briefcase handle.

“An unimportant tenant who pays her rent late.”

“Is that why you tried to have her evicted yesterday?” Nathaniel asked.

Arthur shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“She was behind on her payments.”