“Half a million dollars,” Victoria repeated, stepping closer to me.

“That is more money than you would ever make in three lifetimes.”

“You can buy a house of your own,” she said.

“You can leave this county and never have to look at a trailer park again.”

I did not answer her.

I could feel the hum of the old floorboards beneath my thin shoes.

The engine of the car outside was getting louder.

“Six hundred thousand,” Charles said quickly.

He looked at Victoria, his eyes pleading.

“We can write the check right now, Eleanor.”

“It is a cashier’s check from the estate account.”

“It will clear by tomorrow morning.”

I looked at the mahogany pen tray on the desk.

It held three black ink pens that belonged to Garrett.

He used to write his letters with them every Sunday evening.

“You want me to sign the non-disclosure,” I said.

“Yes,” Victoria said, her breath smelling of mints and nervous sweat.

“You sign the paper on the desk.”

“You state that the eviction was a clerical error.”

“You agree that you have no further claims on the estate.”