Page 47

Monday morning arrived inside my sublet with no evidence that Sunday had happened except eighteen emails, a blister, and one false eyelash stuck to the sole of my boot.

It was not mine.

I removed it with a tissue and threw it away.

The sublet had one bedroom, white walls, rented furniture, and the emotional warmth of a professionally staged hostage video. I had moved in six months earlier and unpacked the items necessary to work.

Laptop.

Chargers.

Printer.

Two mugs.

Clothes.

Everything else remained in labeled boxes along the bedroom wall.

BOOKS.

KITCHEN.

PERSONAL.

The last box was smaller than the others.

I sat at the narrow table beside the window with coffee cooling near my right hand. My body had slept for eleven hours and considered this an opening offer. Every muscle between my neck and hips felt shortened.

The insurance broker’s confirmation from Sunday sat flagged at the top of my screen.

COVERAGE BOUND.

Beneath it waited messages from the museum, vendors, the catering captain, and Ansel Halloran.

I did not open Ansel’s.

A new subject line appeared.

MONTANA EVENT PRODUCER / CERTIFICATE REQUEST / JULY 1 DEADLINE

I almost archived it.

Unsolicited messages using three nouns and a deadline were usually sales pitches or emergencies someone hoped to outsource before introducing themselves.

The sender’s domain belonged to a brokerage in Bozeman.

Not one I knew.

I opened the email.

Ms. Nair,

I was given your information in connection with a one-day event proposed at Carrow Creek Ranch in Madison County, Montana. The insured requires a licensed event producer to be named on the liability certificate and county filing. Current anticipated attendance is approximately 400. Proposed event date is August 15. Filing is due July 1.

The ranch intends to contract directly with stock, food, sanitation, medical, and security providers. The producer would be retained by one client and would not employ subcontractors.

Please advise whether Nair & Co. has availability and interest in reviewing the scope.