Chapter 9: The Lawyer

"I'm not trespassing," I said. "Your daughter gave me this apartment."

"My daughter gave you nothing," Miriam said. "She has no authority to sublet. The lease is void."

"She told me it was paid through June."

"She was mistaken."

"She left an eviction notice in the silverware drawer."

I held up the paper.

The lawyer's eyes flicked to it and away.

Miriam stepped inside and looked around the white room with the faint pity of a woman inspecting a rental car.

"It's a shame," she said. "You were so happy here."

"I was here for four minutes."

"Four is plenty."

Doors had opened along the hall.

An older man in slippers leaned out of 3B.

A young woman with a toddler on her hip peered round the frame of 3C.

Miriam noticed them and her voice dropped into the warm, carrying register I'd heard at the brunch.

"Susie, dear. Let's be adults. Our lawyer will explain."

The lawyer set his briefcase on the kitchen counter and opened it.

He took out a single sheet.

"Ms. Trowbridge," he said smoothly. "My client has become aware that you hold certain paper from the Ellingwood family. Old stock certificates."

"The box Camryn gave me."

"The box Camryn gave you in error."

"In front of three hundred people."

"A joke," Miriam said. "A misunderstanding. The certificates have sentimental value. We'd like them back."

The lawyer slid the sheet across the counter.

"The Ellingwood family will forgive your trespass here. We will refrain from reporting you to the school."

"In exchange, you'll assign the certificates back for the consideration of one dollar."

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