That morning Carlos had tried to dissuade him from going to Moretti Homes—"bad for the media," he said—but Vincent went anyway. The moment his car pulled up outside, reporters swarmed him like fleas. He walked with his hands in his pockets, a black coat draped over his shoulders, and made his way through them without answering a single question.

The lobby itself seemed to shudder at his presence. Employees who had come down for breakfast froze in small groups; no one came out to greet him. He di