Chapter 4

At 8:50 on Friday morning, I sat in the Vale House waiting room.

Fresh bandages covered my palm.

The blue leather design book and the burned thirteenth page rested in my lap.

When Leander Vale came through the door, he carried no flowers, no document that could make any of this disappear for me.

“The panel is here,” he said.

“Will you vote?”

“No.”

He paused.

“I’m recusing myself.”

That was exactly what I wanted.

At nine sharp, I entered the review room.

Three people sat at the far end of the table. I didn’t mention Harrowmont’s board. I didn’t…