Chapter 10 - MARGARET HOLDINGS
My mother owned the warehouse land.
Not secretly for years.
For six months.
She had bought the distressed parcel after Ryan's lender threatened foreclosure.
With what money?
The proceeds from selling the last piece of land she had kept from my childhood.
The land she once promised would be her retirement security.
"Why?"
"I was trying to save you."
I stood so fast my chair scraped backward.
"Everyone keeps saving me without asking me."
Margaret started crying.
I did not stop.
"You followed my husband. You hid his clinic visit. You bought his business land. You tried to provoke him into hitting you."
"I know."
"You put yourself in danger and tied your retirement to a company drowning in debt."
"I know."
"Stop saying that!"
Oliver began crying in the next room.
I stopped.
The silence afterward was worse.
Margaret whispered, "I thought if I owned the land, Ryan couldn't lose your guarantee."
Naomi examined the purchase.
Margaret had actually prevented the lender from taking the parcel cheaply.
Financially, the decision might work.
That did not make the secrecy healthy.
I told Mom we would unwind it properly.
She nodded.
Then she packed a bag.
"Where are you going?"
"Hotel."
"Mom."
"You need space."
"I didn't ask you to leave."
"No. But for once I'm not waiting for you to decide what I need."
That hurt.
It was also fair.
Margaret left.
The mansion suddenly felt enormous.
At midnight, Ryan called.
Evan had disappeared with company funds.
Nearly four hundred thousand dollars.
Ryan sounded broken.
"I need help."
I almost said no.
Then I remembered my real signature on the guarantee.
His collapse could hit me too.
"I'll help the investigation."
"Us?"
"The investigation, Ryan."
He went quiet.
"Right."
The next morning, police found Evan's car at the warehouse.
The driver's door was open.
Blood was on the steering wheel.
May you like
But Evan was gone.
