[Noah's POV]

"Are you absolutely certain, Mr. Marlowe?" The lawyer pushed his gold-rimmed spectacles up the bridge of his nose.

His fingers shook as he slid the heavy fountain pen across the table. "Once this is filed with the registrar, it cannot be undone. It is an admission of paternity under the highest tier of the Marlowe family charter."

"Sign the witness line, Bernstein," I said. My voice was a flat, dead rasp.

I didn't look at the atmospheric arches of City Hall or the dust motes ...