The silence in the room was heavy, broken only by the steady drip of the kitchen faucet.

Deputy Miller cleared his throat and adjusted his cap.

“Ma’am, if there’s a dispute over the funds and the property line, we can write it up formal,” the deputy said.

“But Marcus is prepared to file a complaint for property damage tonight.”

Juliette looked at the pen in my hand.

Her fingers were twitching.

“If I sign this, the police report goes away?” she asked.

“Marcus will sign a liability release once the funds clear his contractor’s account,” I said.

“And you will leave this house tonight.”

“It’s past midnight,” Juliette said, her voice cracking.

“The roads are dark.”

“There is a motel by the highway,” I said.

“I checked. They have vacancies.”

Juliette reached out and took the pen from my hand.

Her grip was tight, her knuckles white.

She dragged the blue folder toward her and signed her name on the bottom of the first page.

She flipped to the second page and signed again.

“The transfer,” I said, pointing to her phone.