Chương 13
Bernice could retrieve medication and essential clothing.
Paisley and Gavin would get limited personal items.
Anything disputed would stay.
At three-fifty-seven, I opened the security app.
The property manager, a broad man named Ellis Reed, stood on the porch with a clipboard.
Bernice arrived first.
She looked smaller without sunglasses.
Paisley came behind her.
Gavin was last.
He carried no bag.
That worried me.
Ellis unlocked the door.
They entered.
I watched through the interior cameras.
For the first few minutes, everything was ordinary.
Bernice went upstairs.
Paisley moved toward the guest room.
Gavin stayed in the foyer.
He looked around the house as if memorizing it.
Then he walked toward the office.
Ellis stepped in front of him.
Even without audio, I understood the exchange.
Not authorized.
Gavin pointed.
Ellis shook his head.
Gavin argued.
Ellis did not move.
Then Gavin pulled out his phone.
Mine rang.
I let it ring.
He called again.
Then he texted.
I need my work laptop.
I stared at the message.
The laptop was in the office.
Company property.
I called Elena.
“Does Gavin have a company laptop at the house?”
“Yes.”
“Is he entitled to retrieve it?”
Silence.
“Where is it?”
“Office.”
“Don’t let him touch it.”
The urgency in her voice changed everything.
“Why?”
“We found remote deletion attempts this morning.”
My skin went cold.
“From his account?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“Three.”
“Successful?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“IT locked the administrator functions after I called.”
I looked at the security feed.
Gavin still stood outside the office door.
He did not know.
“Elena.”
“What?”
“He’s trying to get the laptop right now.”
“Do not let him.”
I called Ellis.
He answered quietly.
“Yes?”
“The laptop stays.”
“Understood.”
“Do not let Gavin into the office.”
“He’s already unhappy about that.”
“Let him be unhappy.”
I ended the call.
On-screen, Ellis said something to Gavin.
Gavin’s face hardened.
He stepped closer.
Ellis held up one hand.
Paisley appeared at the top of the stairs carrying a duffel bag.
Bernice followed with a plastic pharmacy container and folded clothes.
She stopped when she saw Gavin.
He turned toward her.
Something passed between them.
Then Bernice said something.
Gavin answered.
She shook her head.
Paisley came down quickly.
The argument grew.
I turned on the interior audio.
Bernice’s voice came through first.
“Just leave it.”
“I need it.”
“You said clothes.”
“I said work things too.”
Ellis spoke calmly.
“Sir, you were told essential personal property only.”
“That laptop is mine.”
Paisley snapped, “Gavin, stop.”
He turned on her.
“You stop.”
Bernice flinched.
Then Paisley said something that changed his face.
“You already deleted enough.”
Nobody moved.
Not Ellis.
Not Bernice.
Not Gavin.
Not me.
Gavin’s voice dropped.
“What did you say?”
Paisley swallowed.
“I said stop.”
“No.”
He stepped toward her.
“You said something else.”
Bernice whispered, “Paisley.”
Paisley looked at her mother.
That single look told me Bernice knew.
Gavin saw it too.
His face drained.
“What did you tell her?”
Bernice backed away.
“Nothing.”
“Mom.”
“I said nothing.”
Paisley’s breathing had become visible.
Ellis moved closer.
“Everyone needs to lower their voices.”
Gavin ignored him.
“What did you tell Paisley?”
Bernice suddenly looked exhausted.
“I saw you.”
The house went silent.
Gavin stared at her.
“Saw me what?”
“That night.”
Paisley closed her eyes.
Bernice’s voice broke.
“With Madeline’s phone.”
My hand tightened around my own phone.
Gavin did not speak.
Bernice continued.
“I came downstairs for water.”
“Mom.”
“You were sitting at the kitchen table.”
“Stop.”
“The tablet was open.”
“Stop.”
“And her phone was in your hand.”
Paisley whispered, “Jesus.”
Bernice looked toward the floor.
“I asked what you were doing.”
Gavin’s jaw flexed.
“What did I say?”
“You said she asked you to handle a transfer because she was tired.”
My body went cold.
Bernice wiped at her cheek.
“I believed you.”
Gavin laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“So now you’re helping her.”
“I’m telling the truth.”
“Because she locked you out?”
“Because you lied to me.”
His expression changed.
For the first time, the anger slipped.
Something underneath it looked almost young.
Almost frightened.
“Mom.”
Bernice shook her head.
“You told me she knew.”
He looked at Paisley.
She turned away.
And in that small movement, another piece of the story shifted into place.
Paisley kept her eyes on the staircase.
Gavin took one step toward her.
“What did you know?”
Ellis moved between them.
“That’s enough.”
“No.”
Gavin pointed past him.
“She just accused me of something.”
Paisley looked up.
“You want me to say it in front of him?”
“I want you to stop acting like I did this alone.”
Bernice whispered, “Gavin.”
He ignored her.
“You took the payments.”
Paisley’s face changed.
Not shock.
Recognition.
“I took what you told me to take.”
“You signed invoices.”
“You made the invoices.”
“I didn’t make every one.”
“I didn’t say you did.”
Their voices were climbing.
Ellis stepped closer.
“This visit is over.”
Neither of them listened.
Paisley dropped the duffel bag.
A sweater spilled out.
“You told me Northline was temporary.”
“It was.”
“You told me Madeline knew.”
“She did know about supplier restructuring.”
“No, she didn’t.”
“You don’t know what she knew.”
“I know what you told me.”
Bernice pressed one hand against the wall.
Gavin turned toward her.
“And you stayed in that house for free while judging me.”
Bernice stared at him.
“I paid groceries.”
Paisley actually laughed.
It was a terrible sound.
“Mom.”
“What?”
“You bought groceries.”
“I cooked.”
“No one is arguing that you cooked.”
Gavin looked from one of them to the other.
“You both benefited.”
Paisley folded her arms.
“That doesn’t make us partners.”
His face hardened.
“Yes, it does.”
I nearly dropped the phone.
Ellis spoke again.
“All three of you need to leave.”
Gavin pointed toward the office.
“My laptop.”
“No.”
“It contains my personal files.”
“Your attorney can request access.”
“I don’t have an attorney.”
May you like
Ellis shrugged.
“That sounds like a problem for Monday.”
