Chapter 12 - The Man at My Door
I saw him through the camera.
Gray coat.
No tan now.
No confidence either.
He looked smaller than I remembered.
Sarah was upstairs.
I did not open the door.
“What do you want?”
Greg looked directly at the camera.
“To speak to Sarah.”
“She decides that.”
“I need five minutes.”
“No.”
Then Sarah’s voice came from behind me.
“Mom.”
I turned.
She stood on the stairs.
Still too thin.
Stronger.
“Let me.”
“You don’t owe him anything.”
“I know.”
That was why I stepped aside.
Sarah opened the inner door but kept the storm door locked.
Greg stared at her.
His mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
She looked nothing like the woman he abandoned in hospice.
Still recovering.
But standing.
Alive.
“You look better.”
Sarah almost smiled.
“That must be disappointing.”
He flinched.
“I deserve that.”
“You deserve much worse than sarcasm.”
“Yes.”
Another surprise.
No argument.
Greg looked at me.
Then back at Sarah.
“I didn’t come for money.”
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
“Then this is new.”
He closed his eyes.
“Natalie left.”
“I’m not your emergency contact.”
“I know.”
“My trust?”
“I know I lost control.”
“My savings?”
“I’m cooperating with the accounting.”
“My insurance?”
He looked away.
Sarah’s voice sharpened.
“Look at me.”
He did.
“Did you think I was going to die?”
Greg’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
“Did part of you want me to?”
He started crying.
That did not answer the question.
Sarah waited.
Finally:
“I wanted the situation over.”
There it was.
Not a plan to murder.
Something colder in its own way.
He preferred an ending that made his life easier.
Sarah nodded slowly.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For finally saying something honest.”
Then she closed the door.
Greg stood outside another minute.
Then left.
Sarah leaned against the wall.
I wrapped my arms around her.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Good answer.”
She laughed through tears.
A week later, Greg entered settlement negotiations regarding the disputed assets and divorce.
Sarah wanted no long trial over marriage.
She wanted restitution.
Clear title to her property.
Full disclosure.
And freedom.
Greg agreed faster than expected.
Why?
Because his firm had found something during its internal audit.
A client account had been used to temporarily cover one of Greg’s trust shortfalls.
The money was replaced.
But the movement should never have happened.
His professional life was now in danger for reasons that had nothing to do with Sarah.
Then our accountant called.
“We found who noticed the transfer first.”
“Who?”
“A junior analyst at Lawson Financial.”
“Name?”
He told us.
Emily Park.
Sarah went quiet.
“I know that name.”
I stared.
May you like
“From where?”
“She was one of my students.”
