Chapter 6 - His Signature
David came to Priya's office at nine Monday morning. He looked as though he hadn't slept. I almost asked if he'd eaten. Then I remembered the belt.
He sat opposite me, keeping both hands on his knees.
āDad said Southgate needed the database to arrange moves,ā he began.
āWomen who didn't agree to move.ā
āI didn't know that part.ā
āDid you read what you signed?ā
He rubbed his forehead. āI read the first page.ā
āThere were nine.ā
āI know that now.ā
Priya laid out an invoice. āWhy does the foundation say Nora Reed received relocation funds she never saw?ā
āI don't know.ā
āThen help us get the records.ā
David stared at the paper. āDad holds the company's loans. If I turn on him, people lose jobs.ā
āThat's his threat,ā I said. āYou don't get to make innocent women pay for it.ā
āI thought marrying you meant we'd be on the same side.ā
āSo did I.ā
He reached for my hand. I pulled back.
āI'm not asking you to forgive me,ā he said. āJust don't decide who I am from one terrible night.ā
āOne terrible night is what you call losing your keys. You swung a belt at me in front of your family.ā
He looked down. āYou're right.ā
It was the first honest sentence I'd heard from him since dinner.
After he left, Priya checked the access history he had permitted us to request. The log showed that someone using David's credentials had downloaded the entire resident list at 2:14 a.m. on Saturdayātwo days before the confrontation.
āWhat was he doing at that hour?ā Priya asked.
May you like
I called David again. This time he didn't answer.
A minute later, he texted: My father said if I tell you about Saturday night, he'll ruin my mother.
