It took eleven years to clear. Police reports, lawyers, disputes, night shifts, and an amount of paperwork that I still dream about occasionally.
I rebuilt all of it. My finances, then my career, then the rest.
I run a commercial property development company in this city now. I have ninety-one people.
The girl they put on the pavement with a bin bag owns the apartment they were standing in.
And they had come to ask me for a million dollars. For Celestine. Again.
I walked over and pressed the button for the lift.
I said: get out.
My mother’s face did something complicated.
She said: if Celestine ends up in federal prison because you wouldn’t help her, that will be entirely your fault.
The doors opened.
I looked straight at her and said: no.
I said: if she goes to prison, it will be because of whatever she did.
They got in. The doors closed.
