Chapter 9 9

"Dad!" Keira screamed. "I know you're in there!"

The study door opened. Edmon Jacobson stepped out. He looked annoyed.

"Stop screeching, Keira. You sound like a fishwife."

"I need the money," Keira said, holding out the hospital bill. "They're going to move Mom today if I don't pay. You promised."

Edmon sighed. He looked at Geraldine, who had just walked in with a martini.

"Bad timing, dear," Geraldine said. "Cash flow is a bit tight this month."

"Tight?" Keira pointed at Janie's new diamond earrings. "You have money for that!"

"That's essential maintenance," Janie said.

"It's Mom's trust fund!" Keira yelled. "The Medical Trust! You can't touch it!"

Janie stood up. She walked over to Keira.

"Oh, honey," she said. "There is no trust fund."

Keira froze. "What?"

"I convinced Dad, as the primary trustee, to liquidate it," Janie said casually. "To invest in the new waterfront project. It's gone."

"You... you stole it?"

"I invested it. For the family. Mom would have wanted us to be successful."

"She's not dead!" Keira screamed. "She's in a coma!"

Keira lunged at her.

Janie caught Keira's wrist. She was stronger than she looked. She shoved Keira back.

Keira stumbled and hit her hip against the heavy oak table. Pain shot down her leg.

"Look at you," Janie sneered. "Living in the gutter with that rat has made you feral."

"Don't call him a rat," Keira hissed.

"He is a rat. A dirty, violent, poor rat. Does he make you beg for it? Does he beat you?"

"He is a better man than any of you!" Keira shouted. "He has honor! You're just thieves!"

Edmon's face went purple. "How dare you speak to us like that!"

"If you don't give me the money, I'll sue you," Keira said. "I'll go to the DA. Embezzlement is a crime."

The room went silent.

Janie's eyes narrowed.

She picked up a glass of ice water from the table.

She threw it in Keira's face.

The cold shock made Keira gasp. Water dripped down her nose, her chin, soaking her t-shirt.

"Get out," Janie screamed. "Get out of my house! You get nothing! Let your mother rot!"

"Higgins!" Edmon barked. "Remove her!"

Two security guards appeared. They grabbed Keira's arms.

They dragged her to the door.

She didn't fight. She was too numb.

They threw her out onto the gravel driveway. She fell on her hands and knees. The stones cut into her palms.

The heavy door slammed shut.

She knelt there, wet, bleeding, and broke.

She had failed.

A car engine roared.

The gray Ford screeched to a halt right in front of her.

The passenger door flew open.

"Get in," a voice growled.

Keira looked up.

Dock.