Chapter 5 - THE GIRL WHO REFUSED HIS MONEY
Enzo found Mave in the basement pantry again.
She was labeling tea containers.
Her gloves were off.
She didn't put them on when he entered.
That small detail surprised him.
"Miss Dunlevy."
She looked up.
"Mr. Baranti."
"I wanted to thank you."
"For what?"
"For telling me what you heard."
She returned to the labels.
"I told you because someone died."
Enzo nodded.
"I know."
He placed an envelope on the counter.
Mave stared.
"What's that?"
"A reward."
She didn't touch it.
"How much?"
"Fifty thousand dollars."
Her hand stopped moving.
For a moment, the room seemed to tilt.
Fifty thousand dollars.
Enough to pay Finn's remaining tuition.
Enough to replace her aging car.
Enough to afford the hand therapy she'd stopped attending.
Enough to breathe.
Then she looked at Enzo.
"No."
He frowned.
"Mave—"
"I didn't tell you what I heard because I wanted money."
"I know."
"Then why are you paying me?"
"Because your information matters."
She shook her head.
"Then pay the people who work here properly."
Enzo stared.
She continued.
"The contractor deducts money from our checks for uniforms we never receive. We don't get paid when meetings run late. People with injuries are told to work faster or leave."
Enzo's expression hardened.
"Is that true?"
Mave gave a small, humorless laugh.
"Ask the people who clean your bathrooms."
He looked at the envelope.
Then slowly picked it up.
"All right."
Mave studied him.
"All right?"
"I'll investigate the contractor."
She nodded.
"Good."
He hesitated.
"Can I ask you something personal?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"You already know my name. That's progress."
Enzo almost smiled.
"Your hands."
Her expression closed.
"What about them?"
"Did someone hurt you?"
Mave looked down.
"A fire."
He waited.
She continued.
"When I was sixteen."
"I'm sorry."
She shrugged.
"People usually are."
Enzo studied her.
"Does it still hurt?"
"Sometimes."
"Do you receive treatment?"
"Not anymore."
"Why?"
She looked at him.
"Because physical therapy costs money, Mr. Baranti. And being able to pay rent is generally considered more important."
He nodded slowly.
Then said:
"I won't offer you another envelope."
"Good."
"But I can make sure the contractor is held accountable for workplace conditions."
Mave looked at him.
"That would be a start."
May you like
Enzo left the pantry carrying the envelope.
And for the second time that week, he realized that Mave Dunlevy had refused something most people would have begged him to give.
