CHAPTER 011: THE SWELLING OF THE RING 2
669 Words
JADA
“No,” Horace said. “The whole building. The owner wanted to sell quickly because of the fire damage, the lawsuits from the residents, and insurance delays. I bought it through a holding company before the price went up. The tenants are moving into temporary housing today, and repairs will start soon. The neighbors will get money for their damaged property.”
Every word he said sounded helpful, which made it feel worse.
“When were you going to tell me?” I asked.
“When it was done,” Horace answered.
“It is my apartment.”
“It was your apartment,” he said. “Right now it is a liability, a crime scene, and a lawsuit.”
I stared at him. “You bought my home and turned it into paperwork.”
Horace closed the file in front of him. “Your home was already ash and broken glass, Jada. I turned it into something we can fix.”
It cut because it was true, but I still hated it. “You had no right to do that.”
“The landlord was going to sell to a developer who would evict the tenants and hide the fire records for months,” Horace said. “I bought it to save the evidence, stop the public lawsuits, and make sure the people who lived there have a place to stay before reporters start using them against you.”
I let out a short laugh. “You mean before they use them against you.”
Horace did not deny it. “Both.”
His honesty worked better than a defense speech, and I hated that too.
~
Jordan’s tablet hummed again, and a video call appeared on the large screen on the kitchen wall. I saw the faces of the building manager and a contractor.
Horace did not ask me to join the call. I walked over anyway, pulled out a stool right next to him, and sat down.
“Mr. Wallace,” the contractor said. “We started cleaning the smoke on floors three through five. The repair crews are waiting, and the housing for the families is ready.”
I listened to him and looked at the plans on the screen. Simple words and specific facts started coming back to my mind.
“Did your team check the burn pattern near my kitchen wall?” I asked into the microphone.
The contractor looked confused. “Uh… Miss Brooks?”
“Answer her,” Horace said quietly.
“We have the fire department photos, ma'am,” the contractor said.
“I am asking about your report,” I said clearly. “Did the electrical report separate appliance damage from the accelerant traces on the floor? Were the other units photographed before you started cleaning today? And who has the official chain of custody for the items taken from my apartment?”
The kitchen went completely quiet.
Horace stopped moving his coffee cup and turned his head to look at me.
Jordan looked from his tablet to Horace with wide eyes.
“The fire inspector has those details,” the contractor finally said.
“I want a copy of that report,” I told Horace.
“Jordan will get it,” Horace said.
“No,” I said, looking right back at him. “Jordan will send it to me.”
Horace studied my face. “You do not remember signing your lease, but you remember the chain of custody?”
“I remember when men are trying to move evidence around me,” I said.
Jordan looked down, clearly enjoying the fact that I was standing up to Horace.
~
“Sir,” Jordan said, looking at his tablet. “We have a problem with Mrs. Alvarez from the third floor. She will not sign the housing agreement. She thinks the money is hush money from us, and she wants to speak to Jada directly.”
“No. Jada will not speak to her!”
- Writer
