Chapter 3

Mabry crossed the room in long, controlled steps. He did not run. Running would have told the room something. He walked like a man approaching a small fire that could still be stamped out.

"Ava," he said, low and pleasant. "What are you doing?"

She held the letter up. "This was in the envelope. It's addressed to the tenant."

"Give it to me."

She didn't. "The landlord line says Halvorsen Family Trust."

Mabry's jaw tightened. "It's a routine notice."

"Routine notices don't come by hand from a man you just sent to the freight elevator."

Across the room, the investor in the gray suit took another step closer. Her name was Ms. Chen, and she had the kind of face that had closed deals by saying nothing. She looked at the letter, then at Mabry.

"Is there a problem?" she asked.

"No," Mabry said.

At the same time, Ava said, "Yes."

From the corridor, Gus's voice carried. He had not raised it. He never raised it. "It's addressed to the tenant," he said again. "Not to Mr. Mabry personally. Someone should sign for it."

Mabry turned. "You're a process server."

"I'm a trustee."

The word landed strangely in the glittering room. Trustee. Not vendor. Not staff. Not process server. A few people near the bar turned. The champagne tray paused in a waiter's hand.

Ava read the next line aloud. "This letter serves as final notice of lease termination for nonpayment of rent in the amount of four hundred eighty-six thousand dollars."

The number moved through the room like a cold draft.

Mabry laughed. It was a short, sharp sound. "That's a dispute. It's being handled."

"Three months," Ava said. She looked at the letter, then at him. "It's itemized by month. It says the company stopped responding to certified mail."

"I said it's being handled."

Gus stood in the corridor doorway now, Darnell behind him, the freight elevator waiting somewhere out of sight. He looked at Mabry the way a man looks at a bridge with a cracked support. Not angry. Just certain.

"Your signature is on every page," Gus said.

The room went quiet enough to hear champagne bubbles.