Chapter 5
The video began at 5:42 p.m.
Lisa had been filming a stupid Christmas reel in the kitchen when Margaret walked in carrying a blue folder.
Daniel followed her.
The camera caught them in the background.
Margaret said, "She signs Tuesday, whether she likes it or not."
Daniel answered, "She'll ask questions."
"Then don't give her time to read it."
My stomach turned.
Lisa paused the video.
"I didn't hear this when I filmed it," she said. "I found it after you left."
I stared at Daniel on the screen.
"Keep playing."
Margaret lowered her voice.
"Once the refinance clears, the company gets breathing room. Robert never needs to know how bad it got."
Daniel rubbed the back of his neck.
"And Emily?"
Margaret smiled.
"Emily wants a family more than she wants a fight."
The video ended.
I felt strangely calm.
Lisa sat on the edge of the hotel chair.
"I'm sorry I laughed."
I looked at her.
She flinched.
"Why did you?"
"Because that's what we do. Mom humiliates somebody, and everyone joins in so she doesn't turn on us next."
It was the first honest thing I had ever heard Lisa say about her family.
"That's not an excuse."
"I know."
She handed me her phone.
"Send it to yourself."
I did.
Then she said something that made me stop.
"There's another problem."
Of course there was.
"The company isn't just short on cash."
"How short?"
"I don't know. But Uncle Greg said payroll bounced last month. Daniel covered it from somewhere."
My chest tightened.
"From where?"
Lisa shook her head.
"Mom keeps a ledger in the old sewing room. Nobody's allowed in there."
I knew the room.
Second floor. Locked door. Margaret called it storage.
Lisa swallowed.
"I saw your name in the ledger once."
"For what?"
May you like
She looked ashamed.
"Not as family. As an account."
