Chapter 4 - THE SIGNATURE
I had been an accountant before the accident, the annoying kind who enjoyed catching a misplaced decimal. Serena hated it when I asked for supporting documents. She ran finances for Bennett House, and Owen trusted her with his eyes closed.
"She said you reviewed the contractor file," Owen told me.
"I asked to review it. She never sent it."
The file showed five payments to North Quay Access, a company supposedly repairing ramps, installing lifts, and upgrading emergency exits. The property had made a public promise: every guest would be able to use its rooftop independently.
Yet the lift by the pool was still a rectangle of tape on the concrete. Three ramps failed my basic wheelchair test. Now someone had attached my name to the bills.
"She's stealing," I said.
"We don't know that."
"We know she forged my approval. That's enough to call a lawyer."
Owen scrubbed both hands over his face. "I started this hotel with my parents. Serena took over the books when Mom got sick. I never imagined..."
"That she could hurt someone?"
He swallowed.
At noon, Tessa visited with a clean hoodie and a paper bag of crackers. She looked uncomfortable under the hospital's bright lights.
"I work two catering jobs," she said. "Serena can make it hard for me to find another one."
"Then why come?" I asked.
She studied the floor. "My little brother uses a wheelchair. When I saw yours go over the edge, all I could think was that nobody should have to fight a chair and a pool at once."
I took her hand. "You saved both of us."
She gave me a shaky smile. Then she reached into her pocket.
"There's something else. After I pulled you out, I saw a maintenance worker hurry into the camera room. Serena gave him a yellow envelope first."
"Did you see his face?" Owen asked.
May you like
Tessa nodded.
"It was Paul Danner. And he looked scared of her."
