The Jealousy Game novel · Chapter 22 of 24

Chapter 22: The Money

Lena's POV

"It's in Maddie's," Brett said again, louder.

Every head in the pavilion turned to the side of the stage.

Maddie stood there in her cream dress with her mascara run down to her jaw.

She did not look at him.

She looked at the sheriff.

"There is an account in my name," she said. "He had me open it in September, to point at if anyone asked where Lena's money went. I signed what he gave me."

"Maddie," Brett said.

"The money was never in it. It sat in his own account until Monday. I never touched mine."

She opened her purse with shaking hands, took out a plastic bank card, and snapped it in half.

She held the two pieces out to the deputy.

"I'll answer anything you want," she said. "I'm done."

Brett's mouth opened and shut.

It was the first time in fourteen months that I had seen him with no sentence ready.

The sheriff tipped his head toward the second row.

"Where's the pavilion's owner?"

A broad man in a corduroy jacket got to his feet with his napkin still in his hand.

"Here."

"Brett Hallam put forty-eight thousand dollars on your books on Monday."

"He did. It's a deposit on a contract that says the bride signs for the refund."

Every face turned to me.

I walked back up onto the stage.

The leather folder was where Brett's mother had dropped it, the silver pen still inside.

I opened the folder.

On the top page, in neat small type, was the release Brett had wanted me to sign.

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