Naomi's name was cleared of the embezzlement claims within days. Once Silas's evidence reached the district attorney's office. The original charges against her were quietly dropped.
The district attorney's office also opened a broader inquiry into Marsh Construction's vendor practices. Not aimed at Everett. Just making sure no other employee had exploited the same gaps Paige had found. The audit turned up nothing else concerning, mostly minor paperwork errors any growing company accumulates over time. Still, Everett insisted on a full external review anyway, just to be certain. "I'd rather know everything now," he told the board, "than get blindsided again in five years." No one argued with him.
Paige showed up at Everett's house two nights later. Pounding on the door.
"You can't do this to me," she shouted through the wood. "After everything I did for you."
Everett opened the door just enough to look at her.
"Everything you did for me," he repeated. "You mean everything you did to me."
