Chapter 5 - The Bakery Debt
Three weeks later, Mara entered Daniel's office without knocking.
He looked up.
“You've become comfortable breaking rules.”
“Your dog ate one of my shoes.”
Biscuit lay innocently beneath the desk.
Daniel looked down.
“Evidence?”
Mara placed half a black shoe on his desk.
Daniel stared.
Then laughed.
Mara smiled.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The famous laugh.”
“It isn't famous.”
“Your employees talk.”
“My employees value their jobs.”
“Not enough.”
Daniel gestured toward the chair.
Mara sat.
Martin Voss had been charged in connection with financial crimes, conspiracy and multiple homicides.
Lucas Reed had agreed to cooperate.
Accounts connected to Voss were frozen.
But one problem remained.
O’Leary Bakery was gone.
Daniel pushed a folder across the desk.
Mara opened it.
Her smile vanished.
“What is this?”
“Your family's loan.”
“It says paid.”
“Yes.”
“By whom?”
Daniel said nothing.
Mara looked up.
“You.”
“The debt originated from fraudulent agreements created by Voss.”
“So?”
“So I corrected it.”
Mara pushed the folder back.
“No.”
Daniel frowned.
“No?”
“I don't want charity.”
“It isn't charity.”
“You paid almost two hundred thousand dollars.”
“Two hundred seventeen.”
“That correction did not help.”
Daniel leaned back.
“Then consider it restitution.”
“From you?”
“Voss used Carter-connected businesses to pressure your family.”
“You didn't know.”
“It happened under my name.”
“That doesn't make it your debt.”
Daniel studied her.
“You're remarkably difficult.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn't a compliment.”
“I accepted it as one.”
She pushed the folder toward him.
“Undo it.”
“I can't.”
“Daniel.”
“The debt was purchased and discharged.”
Mara stared.
“You are unbelievable.”
“Frequently.”
She stood.
“Fine.”
“Where are you going?”
“To work.”
“Mara.”
She stopped.
Daniel hesitated.
“I have another proposal.”
“No.”
“You haven't heard it.”
“I've learned how proposals work around here.”
He opened another drawer.
A property listing appeared.
Mara recognized the address.
Her old bakery.
She slowly looked up.
Daniel said, “The landlord defaulted last month.”
“And?”
“I bought the building.”
“You what?”
“I need someone to manage the commercial space.”
Mara stared.
“You bought my bakery?”
“The building.”
“Why?”
Daniel's confidence briefly disappeared.
“I thought you might want it back.”
Mara was silent.
Daniel added quickly, “As a tenant.”
“Rent?”
“Market rate.”
“Real market rate?”
“Yes.”
“No secret mafia discount?”
“Mara.”
“No intimidation of suppliers?”
“No.”
“No mysterious disappearance of health inspectors?”
Daniel looked offended.
“I have never disappeared a health inspector.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
Then she looked at the photograph of her family still sitting on the corner of his desk.
“Why are you doing this?”
Daniel's answer was quiet.
“Because someone took something from both of us.”
He looked at the photograph.
“I can't get mine back.”
Then at her.
“But maybe you can.”
Mara's smile faded.
She picked up the property listing.
“Market rate.”
“Market rate.”
“And Biscuit is banned from the kitchen.”
Daniel glanced under the desk.
Biscuit barked.
“Negotiable.”
May you like
“Absolutely not.”
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