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While Oliver spoke, Sa if the prototype of the Silver Ghost had anything to do with thethem At the moment, it appeared they’dtailed Still, he wasn’t about to take chances and he kept watch while they ate

Re the conversation focused during the meal, the better to evaluate Albert Payton and his nephew “They couldn’t rent from the neners?” Remi asked, as the waiter arrived to clear the table

Oliver gave a tight s any look from his uncle “The one and only offer on the land that we’ve seen, well, they’ve refused to guarantee that they wouldn’t evict”

Albert gave a fir”

“The thing is,” Oliver said, “I don’t knoe got to this point One day ere fine, the next everything was lost I—” He looked at his uncle, then back at Sam “I blame myself I should’ve taken over the books sooner I’ to make sense of it all”

“Fra to take everything fro”

“You don’t know that,” Oliver said

“Don’t I?” He looked at Sam, his eyes lucid, sharp “I’ll tell you exactly who it is And why”

3

The waiter placed a leather folder with the check in it next to Sam

Albert watched as the waiter retreated, then looked at Sa?”

“Someone framed you”

He nodded Whatever thought he’d been about to utter, though, was lost The older man’s memory problems seemed real That didn’t elier e of his uncle or attee of them Sam directed his attention to Oliver “What is it that you’re hoping we can do? Or what is it that ested we do?”

“She said youthe car for collateral For a loan”

“My mother said that?”