Chapter 9 - The Debt That Never Existed
Stella expected Jonah to explode.
He didn't.
He read the list twice, then told Wyatt to make three encrypted copies and put them in separate locations.
"You're planning for someone to take this one," Stella said.
"I'm planning for everybody to try."
Mara arrived before dawn with food and bandages. Stella ate half a bowl of soup because Mara refused to leave until she did.
Jonah sat across the room, studying Gabriel's files.
Stella watched him for several minutes.
"Did you know?"
He looked up. "Know what?"
"That your brother was investigating this."
"No. Gabriel thought he could fix everything himself. It was one of the things we fought about."
"And you?"
"I thought power meant making sure nobody could surprise me."
Stella looked at the laptop. "Looks like somebody surprised you."
"Several people."
There was no defensiveness in his answer.
That made it harder to dislike him.
Wyatt entered carrying a thin folder. "I had someone pull Keller Recovery Holdings."
He handed it to Stella.
The company had received her mother's insurance payout, then closed eight months later. Dean had forged Stella's signature on two transfer documents.
There was more.
A settlement from the hospital for delayed diagnosis.
Seventy-five thousand dollars.
Also diverted.
Stella's hands shook harder with every page.
"He stole everything."
Mara sat beside her. "Stella—"
"No. I want to see it."
She kept reading.
Dean had used part of the money to cover gambling debts. Another portion went to a company linked to Detective Hale.
Then Stella found a payment memo.
HAYES - CONTROL / HOUSING.
She stared at the words.
"Control."
Jonah looked up.
"I was a line item."
Her voice cracked for the first time.
"My mother died, and I was a line item."
She stood too fast, crossed the room, and gripped the sink until her knuckles went white.
Jonah followed but stopped several feet behind her.
"You don't have to be strong right now."
She laughed bitterly. "People keep saying things like that when they have no idea what happens if I'm not."
"Then don't be strong for them."
She looked back.
"Be angry for yourself."
That did it.
Tears came silently.
Stella wiped them away with both hands, furious at each one.
"I want him to lose everything."
Jonah's gaze held hers.
"Good."
"Not die."
A beat passed.
"Good," Jonah repeated.
"I want him alive when he understands I know what he did."
Jonah nodded.
"Then that's what we build toward."
Wyatt's phone rang.
He answered, listened, and went pale.
"Boss. We have a problem."
"What?"
"Nico Brandt just walked into the district attorney's office."
Jonah frowned.
May you like
Wyatt continued.
"He's claiming you murdered Gabriel Pierce four years ago. And he says Stella Hayes witnessed you threaten Dean Keller last night."
