"I’m not sure, but there are two investors who really want those lands." She glanced at us with a conspiratorial squint. "They've been trying to buy the land and offering big money."
"From who?" Beth asked.
"Some man," Ms. Jennings waved dismissively. "He claims he's got the rights. But with this much money involved, no one is just taking his word on the matter..." She let the sentence trail off, shaking her head.
"Land disputes can get ugly," Beth said.
"Ugly enough for someone to get hurt?" My pulse quickened at the thought.
"It wouldn't be the first time," Ms. Jennings muttered, locking her gaze with ours. "Especially when there's big money on the table, big enough that people might do anything to claim it." She tapped the edge of her desk rhythmically.
"Thanks for the heads up." I patted my pocket with the keys she'd handed us.
"Stay safe, you two," Ms. Jennings called out as we turned to leave.
"Yes ma’am, we always do," Beth replied, and we walked out into the uncertain safety of late afternoon light, a new lead simmering between us.
NINE
Emma
We walked out of the office, the door swinging shut behind us with a soft click. A chill breeze swept through, tugging at my jacket. My attention caught on a scene a few feet away; a mom licking an ice cream cone, a kid beside her, tears in his eyes. There was a tension between them. One I didn’t see often, and it made me pause in my movements to watch them.
"Mommy, you said if I was good all day, I could get ice cream too." He wrapped his arms around himself, flinching like he was fully expecting her wrath
The woman didn't look down at him as she took another bite. "I told you, we only had enough for one. Stop crying."
"But we had more money–”
"Quiet. If you’re a brat, you won’t be getting dinner either.”
I clenched my fists as injustice knotted in my stomach. The kid didn’t look surprised, just hurt, and I’d unfortunately seen too many kids just like him, with parents who aren’t abusive enough to be "abusive,” but who are terrible people. They break theirkids down day after day in tiny ways, eroding their faith that the world is a good place.
"Look, just go inside. I’m going to go to the gas station around the corner and get some smokes."
"We have money for smokes,” he murmured.
"Quiet,” she muttered again, licking her ice cream with satisfaction.
I didn't even realize I'd taken a step forward until Beth put a hand on my shoulder. "Emma, let it go," she murmured, but I was already past listening.
Heat rushed through me, a familiar prickle under my skin. I focused on the woman, on the injustice, and something clicked into place. Karma. The energy that made things right in this world. If I was wrong about the woman, nothing would happen… but I didn’t think I was wrong.
"Watch," I whispered under my breath.
One minute passed, and then it happened. The mom's confident posture faltered as her heel hit a slick patch on the pavement. Arms flailing, she slipped backward, and the cone flew from her grasp, splattering onto her face in a cold, sticky mess.
"Aw, what the—" She tried to catch herself, but ended up sitting hard on the ground, her expression one of shock and disbelief as ice cream dripped down her cheeks.
"Here." I dug into my purse and pulled out a single napkin, offering it to the woman still sitting on the ground. She snatched it from me, scowling as she tried to wipe the melting ice cream from her face.
"Thanks for nothing," she muttered.
But I knew the universe wasn’t done with her yet, or with the boy. My gaze moved to him, his eyes were wide, his face innocent. Karma was going to be stepping into his life now. He’d be okay.
"Come on, Emma." Beth pulled at my arm. We walked away, leaving the woman struggling with the inadequate napkin.
As we reached the car, I glanced back and that feeling lingered. "Karma's not done with her yet." I shook my head.
