Chapter 5 - HE KNEW WHERE SHE LIVED
Sarah didn’t sleep.
Owen was kept overnight for observation.
At 6:14 the next morning, Sarah sat beside his bed drinking terrible coffee while he slept.
Her phone buzzed.
Her landlord.
“Hello?”
“Sarah…”
Mr. Jensen sounded nervous.
“What’s wrong?”
“I got a call this morning.”
“From who?”
“A lawyer.”
Sarah closed her eyes.
Of course.
“He said there may be reporters coming to the building.”
“That’s not my fault.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you calling?”
Mr. Jensen hesitated.
“My building has investors.”
Sarah stood.
“You’re evicting me?”
“No! No, I didn’t say that.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“I’m saying I need you to keep this situation away from the property.”
Sarah laughed once.
“How exactly am I supposed to control reporters?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s the problem.”
She ended the call before saying something she’d regret.
Five minutes later, another call came.
This one from her boss.
Sarah worked as an office manager for a regional construction company.
“Sarah, HR wants to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“You know what.”
“No. I really don’t.”
A pause.
“Richard Caldwell owns part of the development fund backing our new project.”
Sarah stared at the wall.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I wish I was.”
“So he calls, and suddenly I’m a problem?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Her boss sighed.
“Just don’t come in today.”
“I’m at the hospital with my son.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you talking to me about work?”
“Because this is bigger than me.”
Sarah’s anger turned cold.
That phrase again.
Bigger than me.
Bigger than you.
Bigger than your son.
She was sick of powerful people using size as an excuse for cruelty.
Owen stirred.
“Mom?”
She ended the call.
“I’m here, honey.”
He opened his eyes.
“Are you mad?”
“Not at you.”
“Am I in trouble?”
Sarah’s heart cracked.
“No. Why would you think that?”
“Because that man said I ruined everything.”
Sarah sat on the bed.
“He lied.”
“He said people like me should stay home.”
Sarah looked at him carefully.
“What did you think when he said that?”
Owen shrugged.
His eyes filled.
“Maybe he’s right.”
Sarah’s chest tightened.
“No.”
“But everyone has to wait for me.”
“No.”
“I’m slow.”
“So?”
“I make things harder.”
Sarah took his face gently in both hands.
“You listen to me. You never apologize for taking up space in this world.”
Owen blinked.
“You hear me?”
“Yes.”
“You belong in every room you walk into.”
A tear rolled down his cheek.
Sarah kissed his forehead.
Then her phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
She opened it.
It was a photo.
Her apartment building.
Taken from across the street.
May you like
Under it were five words:
YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE MONEY.
