He looked at the damaged kitchen.
“I warned you the confrontation might escalate.”
“You did.”
“You also promised you wouldn’t face them alone.”
“I wasn’t alone.”
I pointed toward the camera.
Samuel sighed.
“That camera is not capable of calling an ambulance if something goes wrong.”
“Technically, it did.”
Clara gave him a tired look.
“Save the lecture. She’s had a difficult morning.”
Samuel’s expression softened.
“The farm transfer closed at ten o’clock. Every document is recorded. Every condition has been satisfied.”
The paramedic paused while wrapping a support band around my ribs.
“Three million?” I asked.
“Three million, exactly.”
“And the trust?”
“Funded at ten-oh-one.”
I looked through the window.
Rachel was still watching us from the patrol car.
“Did they hear?”
Samuel followed my gaze.
“Not yet.”
“Then tell them.”
Clara frowned.
“Now?”
“Now.”
“Evelyn, you don’t owe them an explanation.”
“No,” I said. “But they need to understand what they destroyed.”
