I stood up from the table, tucking the ledger deep inside my coat.

“Go home to your parents,” I told her. “And do not answer Daniel’s calls.”

“I’m leaving tonight,” she said. “My bags are already in the trunk.”

I walked out of the coffee shop, the heavy glass door closing behind me.

The rain felt different now; it felt like a clearing storm, even though the sky was pitch black.

I got into my car, turned on the heat, and immediately called Arthur back.

He answered on the first ring.

“Did you get it?” he asked.

“I have the ledger,” I said, my voice steady. “And she signed the agreement.”

I heard a low exhale on the other end of the line.

“Excellent,” Arthur said. “Where are you now?”

“I am on Fourth Street,” I said. “I’m going to drive to your office and drop this off in your secure lockbox.”

“Do that,” Arthur said. “I will go to the office early tomorrow morning. We need to copy every single page and verify the handwriting.”