David chuckled, sounding a little like a dog. “Not a problem, Mr. Saladan. I won’t take much of your time. It’s a courtesy call to let you know how your claim is being processed.”

Smiling, Lee held his tie to himself and sat, indicating we should do the same. “Can I get you a drink?” he asked as I settled myself in the supple leather chair and put my briefcase down.

“No, thank you,” David said.

Lee hadn’t given me more than a cursory glance, not even offering to shake my hand. The “men’s club” air was thick enough to chew on, and whereas I normally would have charmingly asserted myself, this time I gritted my teeth and pretended I didn’t exist like a good little bitch at the bottom of the hierarchy.

While Lee added ice to his drink, David donned a second pair of glasses and opened his briefcase atop his lap. His clean-shaven jaw was tight and I could smell his leashed excitement growing. “Well,” he said softly, bringing out a sheaf of papers. “I regret to inform you that, after our initial inspection and our preliminary interviews with a survivor, my company has declined making a settlement.”

Lee dropped a second cube of ice into his drink. “Excuse me?” He spun on a shiny heel. “Your survivor has too much at stake to come forth with any information contrary to it being an accident. And as for your inspection? The boat is at the bottom of the Ohio River.”

David bobbed his head. “Quite so. But the boat was destroyed during a citywide power struggle, and thus its destruction falls under the terrorism clause.”

Making a bark of disbelief, Lee sat behind his desk. “That boat is brand-new. I’ve only made two payments on it. I’m not going to take the loss. That’s why I insured it.”

David put a stapled pack of papers on the desk. Peering over his glasses, he dug out a second paper, closed his briefcase, and signed it. “This is also notice that your premiums on your other properties we insure will be increasing by fifteen percent. Sign here, please.”

“Fifteen percent!” Lee exclaimed.

“Retroactive to the beginning of the month. If you would like to cut me a check, I am prepared to accept payment.”

Damn, I thought. David’s company played hardball. My thoughts shifted from Lee to Ivy. This was going south really fast. Where was her call? They had to be in place by now.

Lee wasn’t happy. Jaw tight, he laced his fingers together and set them on the desk. His face went red from behind his black bangs and he leaned forward. “You need to look in your briefcase, little pup, and find a check in there for me,” he said, his Berkeley accent growing pronounced. “I’m not accustomed to being disappointed.”

David snapped his briefcase shut and set it gently on the floor. “You need to broaden your horizons, Mr. Saladan. It happens to me all the time.”