T Is for Trespass

first idea how to market his place.”
    I flicked another look at Henry, whose face was now carefully composed. In the seven years I’ve known him, I’ve seen him lose his temper a handful of times, and his manner was always unfailingly mild. He didn’t quite look at her. “What are you proposing?”
    “I’m not proposing anything. I’m saying someone from out of state might misread the situation and underestimate the market value.”
    “If Gus or Melanie should raise the question, I’ll give them your business card and you can rush right in.”
    Charlotte looked at him. “Excuse me?”
    “I didn’t realize you were here to cultivate clients. Are you planning to farm the area?” he asked. He was referring to the real estate practice of working an area—sending out flyers, calling on the residents, planting the seeds in hopes of harvesting a sale.
    “Of course not. We’ve already discussed the subject and you made it clear you disapproved. If I offended you in some way, that wasn’t my intent.”
    “I’m sure it wasn’t, but it does seem callous to be estimating home prices predicated on the deaths of people I’ve known for years.”
    “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Henry. You can’t be serious. There’s nothing personal in this. People die every day. I’m seventy-eight myself and I think estate planning is important.”
    “Doubtless.”
    “You needn’t take that tone. After all, there are tax implications. And what about the beneficiaries? For most people, a house is the largest asset they have, which is certainly true in my case. If I don’t have a clue about property values, how can I determine a fair division among my heirs?”
    “I’m sure you’ll have it calculated down to the penny.”
    “I wasn’t speaking literally. I’m talking about the average person.”
    “Gus isn’t as average as you seem to think.”
    “Where in heaven’s name is all the hostility coming from?”
    “You’re the one who brought it up. Kinsey and I were discussing something else entirely.”
    “Well, I’m sorry to interrupt. It’s clear you have your nose out of joint, but I haven’t done anything except express an opinion. I don’t understand what you’re afraid of.”
    “I don’t want my neighbors to think I endorse solicitors.”
    Charlotte picked up her menu. “I can see this is a point on which we can’t agree so why don’t we leave it that way?”
    Henry picked up his menu as well and opened it. “I’d appreciate that. And while we’re about it, perhaps we could talk about something else.”
    I could feel my face flush. This was like marital bickering except these two weren’t that well acquainted. I thought Charlotte would be embarrassed by his tone, but she didn’t bat an eye. The moment passed. The rest of the dinner conversation was unremarkable and the evening seemed to end on a pleasant note.
    Henry saw her to her car, and while the two said good night, I debated about mentioning the clash, but decided it wasn’t my place. I knew what made him so touchy on the subject. At the age of eighty-seven, he had to be thinking about the financial aspects of his own demise.
    After Charlotte pulled away, we fell into step, walking the half block home. “I suppose you think I was out of line,” he remarked.
    “Well, I don’t think she’s as mercenary as you implied. I know she’s focused on her work, but she’s not crass.”
    “I was irritated.”
    “Come on, Henry. She didn’t mean any harm. She believes people should be informed about property values, and why not?”
    “I suppose you’re right.”
    “It’s not a question of who’s right. The point is if you’re going to spend time together, you have to take her as she is. And if you don’t intend to see her again, then why pick a fight?”
    “Do you think I should apologize?”
    “That’s up to you, but it wouldn’t do any harm.”

    Late Monday afternoon I’d scheduled an appointment with Lisa Ray to discuss her recollections about the accident, for which she was being sued. The address she’d given me was a new condominium development in Colgate, a series of frame town houses standing shoulder to shoulder in clusters of four. There were six exterior styles and four types of building materials: brick, frame, fieldstone, and stucco. I was guessing six floor plans with mix-and-match elements that would make each apartment unique. The units were arranged in varied combinations—some with shutters, some with