Free Web NovelChapter 33: Appreciations
Danny was looking at Sean with a different kind of focus now. Like something had just clicked into place.
"The debt," said Danny. "My debt."
Sean said nothing.
"Makima said it was handled," said Danny slowly. "She said someone helped. She wouldn’t tell me who." He looked at his sister. "It was him."
Makima said nothing. Which was everything.
Danny looked back at Sean. His expression had gone through three different things in five seconds and settled somewhere complicated.
"You paid off two hundred and eighty thousand dollars," said Danny. Very quietly.
"The figure with penalties was three hundred and ten," said Sean. "But yeah."
Danny stared at him.
"You’re eighteen," said Danny.
"People keep saying that," said Sean.
"Because it keeps being insane," said Danny. He ran both hands over his face. "I don’t—" He stopped. Looked at his sister. "You knew this whole time and you didn’t tell me?"
"I was managing it," said Makima.
"You were—" Danny stopped. He looked at Sean again. Something moved through his expression. Something genuine. Raw. "I don’t know what to say."
"You don’t have to say anything," said Sean.
"No, I—" Danny shook his head. "That debt was going to destroy me. Actual criminal charges. Prison. I was looking at losing everything." His voice was steady but only just. "And you just... paid it. Why? You don’t know me."
"I know your sister," said Sean simply.
Danny looked at Makima. Then at Sean. Then at Makima again. The math was fully done now. Whatever conclusion he’d reached was showing quietly in his expression.
"Right," said Danny carefully. He picked up his fork again. Started eating. "Okay."
The table was quiet for a moment.
"Thank you," said Danny. Quietly. Without looking up from his food. "I know that’s not enough. But thank you."
"Don’t do it again," said Sean. "The next business opportunity that sounds too good. Walk away."
Danny laughed. Short and real. "Yeah. Trust me. Learned that lesson." He paused. "Who was it though? The person who approached me with the opportunity. Because I’ve been thinking about it and something about the whole setup never sat right with me."
Sean looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"The guy who introduced me to the investment," said Danny. "He specifically asked me if my sister owned property. Like within the first five minutes of meeting me." He frowned. "I thought it was just small talk at the time. But looking back..."
Sean went still.
"Who introduced you?" said Sean.
Danny thought about it. "Guy named Richards. Said he was a property consultant. Had cards and everything. Seemed legitimate." He paused. "I found out later his office address was fake. The whole consulting company was fake."
"Richards," said Sean. He filed the name carefully.
"Why?" said Danny. "Does that mean something to you?"
Sean looked at his food for a moment. "Probably nothing," he said. "But good to know."
Danny looked at him. Clearly not entirely convinced. But he let it go. "Okay."
They ate. The conversation moved to other things. Danny was funny when he relaxed. Stories about his friends. Complaints about his job. At one point he made Makima laugh so hard she had to put her fork down, and Sean watched her and thought that this was what she looked like without three months of weight on her shoulders.
It looked good on her.
An hour later Danny stood up to leave. He stacked the empty containers. Picked up the bags. At the door he turned and looked at Sean one more time.
"Sean Miller," he said.
"Danny," said Sean. freewebnoveℓ.com
"Whatever you are doing." Danny paused. Chose his words. "Whatever it is. Take care of yourself doing it. Yeah?"
"Yeah," said Sean.
Danny nodded. Looked at his sister. "Walk me down?"
Makima walked him to the building door. Sean stayed in the kitchen.
He sat quietly for a moment.
Richards.
A property consultant with a fake office and a fake company who had specifically asked about Makima’s building within minutes of meeting Danny.
Victor Hale’s network was broader than Sean had thought.
He pulled out his phone and sent Max a message.
Find a property consultant named Richards. Fake company. Approached Danny about six months ago. Find out who he actually works for.
Max’s response came in under a minute.
Already found him. That’s what I was going to call you about today. Richards is a fixer. He works for three different clients. Victor is one of them. The other two are bigger.
Sean stared at the message.
How much bigger? he typed.
Victor Hale is a contractor, said Max. Not the architect. Someone hired him to acquire specific properties in this area. Richards is the talent scout. He finds targets.
Who’s the architect? said Sean.
A pause. Longer than Max’s usual response time.
Working on it, said Max. Give me a few days. And Sean.
Yeah.
Be careful. These people aren’t like Victor. Victor got scared when you walked in with a folder. These people won’t.
Sean put his phone face down on the table.
Makima came back into the apartment. She closed the door. Looked at Sean sitting at her kitchen table with his phone face down and his expression somewhere else.
"What happened?" she said.
"Nothing," said Sean. He picked his phone up. Slid it in his pocket. Looked up at her. "Your brother is good people."
Makima looked at him for a moment. She could clearly tell it wasn’t nothing. But she let it go.
"He likes you," she said. She started clearing the remaining containers from the table. "Which is annoying because he doesn’t like anyone immediately. It usually takes him months."
"I’m likable," said Sean.
"You’re something," said Makima.
She carried the containers to the bin. Turned around. Leaned against the kitchen counter and looked at him.’
"Sean," she said.
"Yeah."
"Whatever you’re planning next." She held his gaze. "Whatever the next thing is after Victor."
He looked at her. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"Be careful," she said. Simply. The same thing Danny had just said. Like both of them could sense something Sean hadn’t said out loud yet.
