“Travis, good to see you. Come inside. Best you’re not seen. You know how the old ladies like to talk in this neighborhood.”

Travis and Ronnie walked in the house past Murray. When Jackie entered the house, she handed Murray the keys to the Lexus. “What year?” Murray asked as he looked at the car parked in front of his house.

“Two thousand four,” Jackie replied.

“And the keys? Where did these come from, may I ask?”

“Key box. Under the car, beneath the driver’s side door,” Jackie advised.

“Very obvious, but good for you for thinking to look there,” Murray said as he walked out to the car and took a look at it. He unlocked the car and got in, started the engine and checked the mileage, then drove the car in back of his house to park it in the garage.

Once he came in the house, he picked up the phone. When the party answered, Murray spoke about the Lexus and agreed on a price. “Eight thousand, minus my fee?” Travis nodded his head.

Murray hung up the phone and turned his attention to the bag that Travis was carrying. “So, Travis, what else have you got for me?”

“I have the items we discussed,” Travis said. He handed the bag to Murray.

“Come into the dining room, Travis,” Murray made a point of saying. “You two sit. Make yourself comfortable. We won’t be long.” Murray waved his hand at Ronnie and Jackie. “What am I saying? You know we’ll be a long time. So sit.”

Ronnie and Jackie looked at each other. Travis nodded his head to let them know that everything was cool. Jackie grabbed the remote and plopped down on the couch. Ronnie shook his head slowly.

“Can I get you anything?” Murray asked before he disappeared into the dining room, followed closely by Travis.

“Just our money,” Ronnie said as he sat down in a chair.

As Travis followed him into the dining room, Murray whispered, “Sorry it has to be this way, Travis. Things will go smoother this way. You’ll see. It’s not so much Jacquelyn, but that Ronald-whew, he can be such a hothead.”