Chapter 4: Five Thousand Dollars

"I told you not to come to my work," I said.

"I know."

My voice carried in the marble lobby, and I watched the security guard stop pretending to read his screen.

Floyd did not lower the envelope.

"You said to say anything to Hank. I'd rather say it to you, where the people who watched me lie can watch me pay."

Somebody behind him whispered, and somebody else said, "Is that the guy from the video?"

I had not known there was a video.

Hank had come down the stairs behind me, and he stood by the stairwell door with his hands in his cardigan pockets.

He did not look surprised.

"What's in it?" I asked.

"Five thousand dollars. A cashier's check. It's the first payment."

"From where?"

"From my account."

"Your account?" I said. "You told me for three years that you had nothing."

"I told you I'd find a way to provide," Floyd said. "I'm finding it."

It was a good line, and I hated that it landed.

Kelsey came out of the elevator then, in her pastel blazer, walking fast.

She reached us and put her arm through mine.

"Okay," she said, loud enough for the lobby. "This is not the place, you two. Brin, let me take this."

She held out her hand for the envelope.

Floyd looked at her hand and not at her face.

"It's for Brinley," he said.

"Honey, you're embarrassing her."

"Kelsey," Hank said mildly. "Let her decide."

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