Three, Two, One, I'm Gone novel · Chapter 24 of 24

Chapter 24: At Ten

On Monday morning at five to ten, I took the elevator up from the lobby with my coffee and my badge.

The brooch was pinned over my heart.

The necklace I had saved three months of pay for was at my throat, and I had stopped feeling it there on Sunday.

Wade stood at the back with his coat over his arm.

Four people from accounting stood between us.

I knew the rule.

I could take the elevator any time, but I could not talk to him on it before ten.

I took out my phone.

On Friday the bank had sent a message I had not yet read twice.

*A deposit of 14,200.00 has been returned to your account.*

The screen showed the balance.

It had been zero in the lobby of my old building, on the worst day of my life.

It was not zero now.

Wade's lawyer had told me on Friday that Paige's name was on a fraud complaint in two states, and that she had a husband in Phoenix to explain it to.

I did not feel anything about her anymore, and that was the best part.

A second message came in under the bank's, from Opal.

*Grant is washing my dishes and has been told not to speak. Do not ask. Say yes to the boy. O.*

I smiled at the screen.

Behind me, I could feel Wade looking at the back of my head.

"One minute to ten," whispered one of the accountants, checking his watch.

"Does he get chatty at ten?" another said, very quietly.

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