“Why would he do this?”
Robert looked at Jessica.
“That is the question.”
Jessica’s phone buzzed for a third time.
This time, the message was from an unknown number.
Your sister knows what happened to the first loan.
Ask her where the money went.
The room went silent.
I turned toward Jessica.
“What first loan?”
She stared at the message, her breathing shallow.
“I don’t know.”
The attorney took the phone again, but Jessica caught his wrist.
“No,” she said.
“I need to answer.”
“Jessica, think carefully.”
She shook her head.
“I’ve been thinking carefully for months.
That’s how I got here.”
She stepped outside, walking several paces into the yard.
I followed, but stopped near the porch.
She pressed the phone to her ear.
“Hello?”
No one spoke loudly enough for me to hear the other voice.
Jessica’s face changed as she listened.
The panic in it gave way to disbelief, then sorrow.
