Three Baby Cribs and a Missing Set of Car Keys

“Can we not do this during dinner?” she asked. “Every conversation lately turns into a debate about the company or money.” “I am just trying to explain how the business works, Mia,” I said. “I don’t care about the business,” Mia said. “I care about my housing. If the deposit isn’t paid by Friday, I…

“Vanessa has been spending her afternoon shopping,” I said. “She had three new designer suitcases delivered yesterday morning.” Helen did not look up from her phone. “A young woman needs proper luggage when she is rebuilding her life.” “They cost four hundred dollars apiece,” I said. “I looked them up.” “Your sister has taste,” Helen…

He hung up, leaving only the flat hiss of the dead line in my ear. The town of Craig did not have many places to buy bulk mineral blocks or fencing wire. At two in the afternoon, I pulled my truck into the gravel lot of the county cooperative feed store, the tires crunching over…

“You are persistent, Arthur,” she said, her voice dropping to a low murmur as she stopped two feet away. “I was just showing the sheriff your handiwork with a pen,” I said. She did not flinch. She adjusted the strap of her leather binder. “We have brought certain standards to the area, and we intend…

“The power of attorney was for emergencies,” I said, looking from Chad to my father. “It was for handling the roof if a hurricane hit while I was at sea.” “An emergency is exactly what we had,” Chad said, the lighter snapping shut one last time. “Where is the sixty-four thousand dollars?” I asked, my…

I found James, Marcus’s business partner, sitting alone in the glass-walled boardroom. He was staring at a white board covered in faded blue marker, a paper coffee cup clutched in both hands. The room smelled of stale coffee and carpet dust, the large conference table covered in rings from old mugs. “James,” I said, tapping…