“Still dead?”
Eli looked up sharply.
Mason saw it.
“Use another word.”
Victor glanced toward the boy.
Then back.
“Still not running.”
“Better.”
Victor gave a tiny smile.
“You've become sensitive.”
“I've become selective.”
Victor approached Sarah.
“I brought the revised agreement.”
She looked at the folder.
Mason's jaw tightened.
Victor continued.
“Twenty-two thousand.”
“Immediate payment.”
“I arrange transport.”
“You keep Daniel's personal accessories and any documentation you want.”
Sarah said nothing.
Victor opened the folder.
“One signature.”
Mason said, “Put it away.”
Victor did not look at him.
“Sarah makes her own decisions.”
“Correct.”
“Then stop answering for her.”
Mason moved half a step.
Sarah put one hand against his forearm.
Not because she thought he would hit Victor.
Because Mason had a talent for making rooms smaller without moving much.
“Gentle.”
He looked at her.
She repeated:
“Gentle.”
Mason nodded.
Victor smiled faintly.
That irritated him more.
Sarah asked, “Offer good until when?”
“Today.”
“Of course,” Mason said.
Victor finally looked at him.
“Problem?”
“Deadlines are useful when someone might think too long.”
Victor shrugged.
“Markets change.”
“Not in six hours.”
“Information changes.”
Mason stared.
“What information?”
Victor pointed toward the bike.
“Every mechanic here has failed.”
Ray said, “That's generous.”
Victor looked at him.
“Have you fixed it?”
“No.”
“Then?”
Ray smiled slightly.
“Diagnosis isn't failure just because the answer takes longer than your patience.”
Victor ignored him.
He opened the purchase contract on a workbench.
Sarah looked toward Eli.
The boy had wandered nearer Mason.
He slipped his small hand into Mason's.
Mason looked down.
Eli whispered:
“Is he taking Daddy's bike?”
Mason crouched.
“He wants to buy it.”
“Why?”
“Because he likes it.”
Eli frowned.
“Daddy said no.”
Mason's throat tightened.
“Yeah.”
“But Daddy's gone.”
The words were simple.
No dramatic sadness.
That made them worse.
Mason nodded.
“Yeah.”
Eli looked at Sarah.
“Mommy says bills.”
Victor heard.
Mason saw him hear.
Something about Victor’s expression shifted.
Calculation.
Mason disliked it.
Victor crouched several feet from Eli.
“Your dad built a beautiful motorcycle.”
Eli said nothing.
Victor continued.
“I’ll take care of it.”
Mason's voice became sharper.
“Stand up.”
Victor looked at him.
“I’m talking to him.”
“No.”
“Mason.”
“Stand up.”
Sarah whispered, “Mason.”
He kept his eyes on Victor.
“Adults negotiate with adults.”
Victor straightened slowly.
“Fine.”