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Maravaches and the other insureds, is it? ”
    “ No, another difference is that Steel City Roasters was seriously undercapitalized. Also, the landlord had recently raised Steel City Roasters ’ rent, but, as I understand it, all the other tenants were grandfathered into leases that provided for rent caps. ”
    Sasha had to admit that Yim was good. Those were two terrible facts for her client. But it wasn ’ t Sasha ’ s first time at the rodeo. “ Sure, but that ’ s not the material difference between Steel City Roasters ’ and the others, is it? ”
    For the first time, Yim ’ s confidence faltered. “ I … I ’ m not sure what you mean, ” she said finally.
    “ What I mean is, isn ’ t it true that every other insured ’ s claim was handled by Mr. Moraine and not you? ”
    “ Um, to be honest, I don ’ t know that off the top of my head. I ’ d have to look at my files back at the office. ”
    “ That ’ s okay. I have documents here that will show it. In fact, the documents Mid-Atlantic produced in discovery establish that every single property damage claim in the past ten years that arose out of a fire where Inspector Herschman handled the fire inspection, Frank Abruzzi or Ben Dolman was the insurance broker, Mr. Moraine was the adjuster, and Anthony DiPanni was the supervisor was paid — every single one was paid. Is that a coincidence, Ms. Yim? ”
    Yim ’ s face clouded. She furrowed her brow. Then her eyes widened. It was as if she were a novice acting student being told to convey first disbelief and then dawning realization. Chadwick, who was barely paying attention, didn ’ t notice his client ’ s reaction but managed to object to the form of the question.
    Sasha locked eyes with Yim for several long seconds before saying, “ I ’ ll withdraw it. I think I ’ ve done everything I need to here. Let ’ s wrap this up. I ’ m dying for my pre-lunch coffee. ” She gestured with her empty Jake ’ s Coffee Shop mug.
    She ’ d done what she could. The rest was up to Yim.
     
     
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
     
     
    “ You did fine, ” Phillip assured Laura as they left the lawyer ’ s offices and navigated the narrow staircase to the first floor. “ Better than fine, in fact. ” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and checked the time on his gold wristwatch. “ Do you have time for lunch? ”
    “ No, I ’m sorry, I don’ t. ” She braced herself for a barrage of follow-up questions asking what time her flight was and how she planned to get to the airport, but he apparently wasn ’ t all that interested.
    “ Maybe next time. ”
    “ No offense, but I hope there ’ s not a next time. ”
    He laughed at that. “ Fair enough. ”
    She let out a shaky breath. Her mind was racing, trying to explain away the information it had just acquired. She had to get rid of her lawyer so she could think.
    She glanced toward the entrance to the coffee shop, just a few yards away. “ But I do want to get some tea, so I ’ ll say my goodbyes now. ”
    “ Oh, of course. ” He shifted his briefcase into his left hand and offered her his right. “ It was nice to meet you, Laura. I ’ ll be sure to let the folks at Mid-Atlantic know that you did a very nice job. ”
    She pumped his hand and ignored the sickly, guilty feeling her plan was causing in her belly. “ Thanks. ”
    She watched him stride along the hallway and waited until he pushed through the heavy front door and stepped out on to the sidewalk. Once she was sure he was gone, she forced her shaky legs to carry her into the coffee shop across the hall. The small shop was nearly empty, except for a cluster of artsy-looking young guys leafing through an oversized portfolio, admiring an array of glossy black and whites. From the glimpse she caught as she passed the table, the photos appeared to be pictures of buildings taken at unusual angles, mainly extreme closeups.
    She neared the counter then hesitated, unsure if she should order. What