“What was it for?”
“Debt.”
My stomach tightened.
“Whose debt?”
“Greg’s.”
She explained that the new company had been used to move money away from the joint account before creditors could reach it.
I sat perfectly still.
Greg had been hiding financial problems while telling me I was selfish for protecting our savings.
The townhouse had been the excuse.
The money was the real objective.
“And Diane?”
“She signed documents associated with the account.”
I closed my eyes.
For years, Diane had told me that I wasn’t family.
Yet she had been perfectly willing to use my money to protect hers.
I thought of her note again.
Let’s see who comes for you now.
I finally understood.
She had never believed I would have anyone.
She had simply mistaken quietness for weakness.
Chapter 5: Home
Three days later, I finally had the documentation I needed to travel.
I stood in the hotel lobby with my bag beside me.
Knock came around the desk.
“Mrs. Bennett.”
I turned.
She handed me a small envelope.
Inside was a copy of the preserved checkout record.
“Your evidence,” she said.
I looked at her.
“Thank you.”
She nodded.
“You’re welcome.”
Outside, the tropical air was warm and heavy.
For the first time since waking up, I felt something other than fear.
I felt direction.
When I landed back in Ohio, Martin was waiting.
So was Rachel.
No Greg.
No Diane.
No Ashley.
Just the people who had answered when I used a code I had memorized years earlier and never expected to need.
Martin looked at me.
“You made it.”
I nodded.
“I did.”
He glanced at my bag.
“Passport?”
“Back where it belongs.”
“Phone?”
“New one.”
“Bank accounts?”
“Protected.”
He smiled faintly.
“Then Blue Lantern worked.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I worked.”
He laughed.
“That too.”
The legal proceedings took time.
There was nothing cinematic about them.
There were documents.
Statements.
Bank records.
Questions.
More documents.
But facts have a strange power.
They don’t care who cries.
