Sarah brought out a small notebook from her purse.
Every payment was written down.
Nine hundred fifty dollars.
Sometimes more.
Mercer interrupted.
“Sarah, before this becomes something bigger than it needs to be, there may have been misunderstandings on both sides.”
Sarah turned toward him.
For the first time since entering the house, she didn’t look frightened.
“You told me if I kept complaining, you’d find someone else who could pay on time.”
Mercer frowned.
“I don’t recall saying that.”
“I do.”
Rachel looked up from her notes.
“Was anyone else present?”
Sarah nodded.
“My sister Lisa.
She was here that day.”
Mercer exhaled sharply.
Nathan’s gaze settled on him.
“So we have records, photographs, receipts, invoices for work that appears not to have been performed, unauthorized charges, and a witness to a possible threat against a tenant who requested repairs.”
“You’re jumping to conclusions,” Mercer snapped.
It was the first time his composure fully cracked.
Nathan didn’t raise his voice.
“No.
I’m stopping you from jumping past evidence.”
Mercer grabbed his clipboard.
“I think we should continue this through counsel.”
“We will.”
He moved toward the door.
Nathan added, “Effective immediately, Mercer Property Services no longer has authority to collect rent or enter this property on behalf of my company.
Rachel will send the formal notice tonight.”
Mercer stopped.
“You can’t terminate an operating agreement because of one tenant complaint.”
Nathan looked around the room.
“This is not one complaint.
This is evidence that your reports may be false.
Until we know how far it goes, you’re done touching these properties.”
Mercer left without another word.
The door shut behind him.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Sarah sat down at the kitchen table as though her legs had finally given up.
“I thought nobody would believe me,” she said.
Nathan pulled out the chair across from her.
“I should have known sooner.”
Sarah shook her head.
“You didn’t cause the leak.”
“I owned the company responsible for making sure it was repaired.
That means I had a responsibility to know whether the people I hired were doing their jobs.”
He didn’t offer a speech or excuses.
He opened his phone and made calls.
That night, emergency heating technicians arrived.
A contractor inspected the roof.
Another specialist examined the damp wall in Noah’s bedroom and told Sarah the room shouldn’t be used until it had been properly treated and repaired.
Nathan arranged temporary accommodation for the family while the house was made safe.
Sarah resisted at first.
“I can’t afford a hotel.”
