Martin Sterling did not answer immediately. He was looking past Croft at the man standing beside the elderly woman with the bottle of water. His expression changed from concern to astonishment.
"Mr. Bennett," he said. "I wasn't expecting you today. Is everything satisfactory?"
Every employee within earshot went still. Croft turned, glanced from Sterling to William, and suddenly looked unsure where he should put his hands. Christina watched the exchange without understanding why the man who had been so dismissive all morning had taken a half step backward.
William remained beside her chair. "No, Martin," he said. "I'm afraid it isn't satisfactory at all. Your manager humiliated my grandmother in front of customers and employees, insulted both of us, and ordered security to escort us out."
Sterling looked at Christina, then at Croft. "He did what?"
The first thing Martin Sterling did was look at the woman sitting near the Porsche, not at the man trying to explain himself. Christina was holding the vehicle information sheet on her knees with both hands, as if it might somehow provide a reason for what had happened. She looked tired, and her eyes were red around the edges. Martin had been in the motor trade for nearly forty years, and he understood at once that no sale, however profitable, could make a scene like this acceptable.
"Mrs. Bennett," he said, approaching slowly, "my name is Martin Sterling. I'm responsible for this business, and I'm sorry your visit has become so upsetting. May I sit for a moment?"
"Of course," she answered. "Though I imagine you're a busy man."
"Not too busy for this."
Croft followed him. "Sir, with respect, there was a misunderstanding about the customer's intentions. I was protecting the vehicle and the gallery from an inappropriate request."
Anna gave a disbelieving laugh. "There was nothing inappropriate about the request. She asked about buying the blue sports car. He laughed at her appearance and repeatedly said she couldn't afford it. When she asked questions, he threatened to throw her out."
"Miss Morales is exaggerating," Croft said. "This has been a complicated encounter."
"I wrote down what you said," Anna replied, holding up her phone. "There's a receptionist who heard it, a salesperson who offered to help, and a security officer you ordered to remove us. If you want to call all of us liars, do it clearly."
Martin turned to Peter. "Is there any reason Mrs. Bennett couldn't have been shown the vehicle?"
Peter swallowed. "No operational reason, sir. The car is available for sale. The information sheet is public. A request to view the interior can be accommodated with a salesperson present."
"And did we do that?"
"No, sir."
Martin's face tightened. He looked toward the reception desk and saw Lena standing with her hands clasped in front of her, as though preparing to be blamed for something. Then he looked at Darius, who had positioned himself close enough to provide support but not so close as to intimidate anyone. It was not a comfortable picture of the business he believed he had built.