HAZEL had been thorough. This was not a surprise to anyone who knew her, but the part she played in the way she and Amaka had assembled by Friday morning was something that even Amelia, who had raised her and knew better than anyone what Hazel was capable of when she decided to do something properly, she had not fully anticipated.

The restaurant video had come first. Ryan's contact had delivered it Thursday evening. A full video of Ryan sitting at an expensive table with three different sophisticated women while a waiter returned his card twice. Charles had taken the bait by thinking he could cash the cheques before Amelia...