“I understand completely. I won’t be finished with classes today before the banks close, but perhaps I can make the arrangements tomorrow. And I’ll need to discuss it with Miss Goodnight, although I’m sure she’ll agree. Then she will need to withdraw her funds as well.”

Waterson didn’t like that one bit, but he smiled politely. “That sounds fine. I’ll do my best to convince the owner to wait a few more days.”

“I’m so glad we were able to work this out, Mr. Waterson.”

“So am I,” he said, although he didn’t look glad at all, probably because he wouldn’t have Cybil’s cash to use to pay off Coleman this afternoon.

—

Gideon met Jake and Mr. Coleman in the lobby of Waterson’s hotel, as they had arranged. Mr. Coleman and Jake greeted him.

“You have all the contracts?” Coleman asked, just as if this were a perfectly normal transaction.

“Yes.” Gideon patted his document case. “All ready to be signed. I don’t suppose you have any instructions for me.”

“None at all,” Jake assured him. “Just act as you normally would.”

Coleman checked his pocket watch. “I guess we can go on up.”

The men went up to Waterson’s suite. He opened the door and welcomed them warmly, shaking each man’s hand. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your cooperation in this, Mr. Coleman.”

“I’m going to be really bitter if you end up a millionaire, Waterson,” Coleman said with just the right amount of irony.

“I’d be a lot happier about this if I thought that was going to happen,” Waterson said. “As it is, I’m bitter myself that my relatives have put me in such an awkward position.”

“I hope this is their money you’re using to pay me off.”

Waterson merely smiled grimly. “Can I get you gentlemen a drink?”

“Perhaps after I count the money,” Coleman said with a grin.

“It’s right here on the table.”

An ordinary carpetbag sat in solitary splendor on a table that had been placed near a door that probably led to the bedroom of the suite. Gideon couldn’t be sure, of course, since the door was firmly shut, but it was in the right location for it, and the parlor of a suite wouldn’t need a closet, so it probably wasn’t that.

Coleman opened the carpetbag and pulled out fifteen neatly wrapped bundles of cash. They appeared to be twenty-dollar bills. Coleman broke open the first packet and determined there were really one hundred twenty-dollar bills in it. Gideon took a seat on the sofa, figuring they’d be there a while if Coleman intended to count every packet.