Chapter 2: The Name on the Card
Tucker said his name.
Cordell Vane nodded once.
He reached into his jacket, pulled out a card, and held it out.
"Come see me Monday morning.
Eight o'clock."
Sabine Whitlock stopped pulling against the grip.
"Cordell." Her voice dropped.
"I know this man.
He works for my father."
"I know who he works for."
"Then tell him to let go of me."
Cordell looked at her for the first time.
Not long.
Just enough.
"He's not going to do that."
The lobby was completely silent.
The man near the desk still had his phone up.
Odis Brandt had not moved from the floor.
His hands were still on the mop handle.
But his eyes were up now, watching Cordell Vane's face with an expression nobody in that room could read.
Cordell turned toward the old man.
He crossed the twelve feet slowly.
He crouched down until they were level.
He said something.
Low.
Just the two of them.
Odis Brandt's jaw tightened.
He looked down at the floor.
Then he gave one small nod.
Cordell stood back up and turned to the room.
"Everybody go home."
Sabine Whitlock took one step forward.
"You have no idea what you just did."
Cordell picked up the folder he had set on the desk.
He didn't look back.
"I know exactly what I did."
He walked to the elevator.
The doors closed.
Nobody moved for a long moment.
Then Tucker Nall looked down at the card in his hand — and saw that it wasn't Cordell Vane's name printed on it.
It was Odis Brandt's.
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What is on that card — and what did Cordell say to Odis on the floor?
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