Chapter 20 - COLLATERAL DAMAGE

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Dave’s face was red with alcohol and raw fury. He stood on the porch of his foreclosed suburban home, blocking Sarah from stepping inside.
"You have a lot of nerve showing up here," Dave spat, gripping a half-empty beer bottle. "After what you did to your kid? To Mark?"
"Dave, listen to me," Sarah pleaded, keeping her distance. "Mark’s business isn't failing because of the market. It’s failing because Linda is embezzling."
Dave let out a harsh, bitter laugh. "Linda? Linda is the only reason Mark isn't in federal prison right now. She’s been liquidating her own retirement to keep our payroll afloat."
"Did she show you the bank statements?" Sarah asked.
"She didn't have to," Dave snapped. "I saw the transfer receipts. The company is completely broke, Sarah. I’m losing my house on Tuesday. My wife took the kids to her sister's. Don't come here trying to frame the one woman who is actually trying to save us."
"Dave, Apex Logistics is a shell company," Sarah said quickly, stepping closer. "She transferred forty thousand dollars—"
Dave slammed his beer bottle down on the porch railing. It didn't shatter, but the heavy thud made Sarah flinch.
"Apex Logistics is our primary concrete supplier, Sarah," Dave said coldly. "I signed the vendor agreement myself three years ago. If you’re going to invent a conspiracy to cover up what you did to your baby, you need better material."
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He went inside and locked the deadbolt. Sarah stood on the porch alone. If Dave had signed the vendor agreement, then Linda wasn't acting alone. Or Dave had no idea what he had actually signed.
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