Page 100 of Old Money

“Seriously?” I say, incredulous.

“Absolutely.No judgment.”

“No, I mean is this seriously your move? You think if you call me chicken, I’ll—”

“What? No.No, that’s not what I—”

“I’ll just snap out of it?”

“Wow.” He turns back to his computer. “You know what? Never mind.”

“No, go on.” I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms, my heart thumping. “Go ahead.”

“Forget it.”

“Come on, Jamie. I’m listening.”

“Yeah. Got that.”

“What doesthatmean?”

I watch him click absently around his computer, eyes fixed forward.

“Jamie.”

“Shit, Alice!” he bursts out. “You’re not doing anything. You’re talking about evidence and witnesses, but you’re not out there knocking on doors. And that’sfine! That’s probably—”

“Whose door, Jamie?” I ask, my voice clear and unchecked.

“But this lull, right here?” Jamie jams a finger on the desk, blowing past my question. “Thisis your window. It’s not going to be easier in a couple days when everyone’s back in town, plus a few hundred wedding guests. It’s going to be chaos, you know that, right?”

“Whose door should I be knocking on?”

He tosses his hands up.

“Your aunt’s? Your brother’s? I don’t know,anyone’s? Isn’t that literally what Alex said?”

“Right, and now he’sliterallya missing person.”

“Yeah! And I got run off the fuckin’ road! You’re scared because this is scary shit. So how about you get over yourself and call it off already?”

“You know what? I’ll take it from here.” I gesture at the air between us. “This part I’m calling off.”

“Okay. What?”

“You’ve got doubts—totally fair. You’re out. I’ve got it.”

I get up, gathering my things.

“Where are you going?” Jamie says wearily. “Alice, don’t be a child.”

I pause to look at him, watching regret bloom on his face.

“It’s after five,” I answer calmly. “And you’re right, I’ve got doors to knock on.”

Chapter Forty-Four

Theo’s office doesn’t look like a lawyer’s. It looks like the home of a nineteenth-century ship captain, which is what it used to be. The building was rezoned more than sixty years ago, but none of the occupying businesses have had the funds to remodel. Thus, the old canning pantry serves as a copy room, and the communal fridge stands inside a six-foot-tall fireplace in the parlor. Theo works on the second floor, in a dressing room once belonging to the lady of the house. He stores his files in her old armoire.