The Blood Feud He Doesn't Remember

The records left my hands at four fifty-five. Bianchi took them in a leather folder. The folder was stamped ASIA LEGALE — RISERVATO. Asia Legale was the Ashford family firm. Reserved was the kind of word that meant what it said.

Roman was not in the room when the folder changed hands. I had asked for that. He had agreed without asking why. He had begun, in the last week, to understand that some of my requests were not negotiable.