“So the story was true.”
Elias stepped closer.
Emma caught his hand.
Not to restrain him this time.
To anchor herself.
Nathaniel noticed.
His smile sharpened.
“You look… unchanged.”
There it was.
The old weapon.
Emma felt it strike.
Then something strange happened.
It did not go as deep.
She looked down at herself.
Blue traveling coat.
Full body.
Nearly six hundred forty pounds.
Same flesh Nathaniel had spent years turning into indictment.
Then she looked at Elias.
He was not embarrassed.
Nathaniel’s weapon required her to believe his judgment mattered.
She no longer did.
Emma smiled.
“You look older.”
Nathaniel’s face changed.
Elias coughed.
Nathaniel ignored him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Harper Brokerage.”
For the first time, Nathaniel’s expression shifted.
Emma saw it.
“You know it?”
“Everyone knows businesses.”
“That one owns nothing.”
Nathaniel looked toward the clerk.
Then back.
“I’m late.”
Emma stepped into his path.
“You invested?”
Nathaniel’s voice cooled.
“Move.”
Elias took one step.
Emma did not.
“Nathaniel.”
He stared.
She lowered her voice.
“You remember how the divorce ended.”
His jaw tightened.
“You remember what I know about your books.”
Elias looked at her.
Nathaniel did too.
For the first time, fear appeared.
“Harper Brokerage receives money from Mercy Bend Bank.”
Emma continued.
“Why?”
Nathaniel looked around.
“Not here.”
“Then where?”
He swore softly.
“Hotel bar.”
Elias said, “No.”
Nathaniel looked at him.
“Excuse me?”
“Courthouse square.”
“Public.”
Nathaniel smiled.
“You don’t trust me?”
Elias’s expression did not change.
“No.”
They sat at an outdoor café one block from the courthouse.
Nathaniel did not order anything.
Emma did.
Coffee.
Elias ordered pie.
Nathaniel stared.
Elias shrugged.
“Long trip.”
Emma almost laughed.
Then she looked at her former husband.
“Talk.”
Nathaniel leaned back.
“I invested in Harper Brokerage seven years ago.”
“With Bell?”
“With several men.”
“What does it do?”
“Purchasing.”
“Of what?”
“Distressed agricultural paper.”
Elias’s eyes narrowed.
“Farm debt.”
“Yes.”
Emma understood.
“Bell creates bad debt.”
“Harper buys it cheaply.”
Nathaniel’s jaw tightened.
“I did not say Bell creates it.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Nathaniel looked toward the street.
“I learned last year the returns were too consistent.”
“How consistent?”