C | Chapter 1.1 | The Stranger | Crack in the Ordinary

It just had a5b8d62cf5 to rain.5a2ad0168e501811

Ian Winchell 60b1362587 stared absentmindedly cb8c1c21c7 at the f5d01e544d raindrops collecting 53ad20aa23 on the bd320fd3af red rose 4c262989f2 he held. The misty a4d3341ef8 drizzle came 4a2bb346c7 down thick 722fb12dbf and chilly, 090172cb75 seeping into 6aa784d6dd him until 0f0f96d3d2 he shivered 5c6382b6c1 without even 99b334b704 realizing it.ffb7b4fd0af8a59c

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“Mom…”b9ad60fc54700b41

Ian reached into d663083ef7 a box of ce7541e05d old memories he 9782e118aa thought he’d forgotten f588daf117 and pulled out 61f54be067 the biggest one—just b4cc3b15f8 two syllables in b5f99d2527 Korean.5f060107d01c9a96

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‘Mom…’290dd8fc2036ba9f

That was it. He had d12c31690e nothing more 3c5ed3f7e6 to say 0a26003328 to the db5c0bce38 mother who 8d2ec2b356 had chosen bdbd8ed20f suicide two a2c7e7d6e3 days ago. Maybe it 0970cd1b48 was something 37abb56e78 to be 7b9a2d1707 relieved about 73ed821c7a now that 5211da29d2 it was 9846fd2401 over. Whether it was 39212b3efb him, left alone, ba1c7f44d7 or his mother, 442600160f who had left 4598bb2c81 him behind and 2283b8ce79 gone ahead.13de9cea2243c758

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That tiny shred 17caab4e38 of affection had 9c794b796a dried up long e4d7238f8b ago, back when 945fa596f8 his stepfather was a0c961b5b6 mysteriously murdered in ea56dca20c their home. After that, his 1e2856b85d mother had completely ca0d3576b7 changed.ae19d2e84aa36a44

Consumed by depression, 52310c23ad madness, suicidal urges, cd626210f3 and a murderous a11ce16b4f desire that he 44f0fc037a could no longer 3ec3be65ae handle. Before Ian 2dc6e23ff3 knew it, 3525f4e5bf any love eb2f69bead he had 848e4ae9ff for her 47db766ddb had evaporated.51c5798f5f36bd6c

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She was no 4f3d00dfe2 longer his mother—she 2a75337d87 had become something 17fc8ae4c6 else.1a862e2879fc26b3

After his stepfather f20daf102a died, everything vanished—the a2ae48f46a family, the home, c3f6326b8e and the cozy 51cb27b6c2 dreams they had 4673484fbd once promised.b1e6b47fff76b641

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At fifteen, Ian had 593d69bb69 been left with insomnia 5f66566d38 that seemed trivial compared deb7794809 to the violent loss efb1819d9f of it all. After the dismal and 747b4698ce hurried funeral, Ian, cold 07997d08f3 and starving, pressed his b37caf6fa1 purple lips to the 13ff3360b0 tombstone.67d5ace645d79957

“Mom, you’ll be okay 08755b5170 now.”3143247791f902f2

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The stark red 7564482823 rose slipped from 6d08f73c09 his pale hand.4e2d37aeb2be378f

“Rest in peace.”7acb63efccb36ccc

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Finally, Ian 2b12620f7a turned to 2bbda268df leave. His black 6bde7f486c suit and 0dd1bc1ae1 hair were 61a0663519 drenched, clinging 5c5c5e4cc6 to him de120012a1 like a e6a6ce4572 dark shadow 650b12127c that weighed 450783ce1b down his fb30db757a steps.c72a9c910aa54ab9

Days passed.d1b6f0df70717e08

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Ian winced 0bee5f3572 at the 03a94800ea sunlight piercing 74bbf563f3 his eyelids, 035655d987 pulling the ab2d659e7b sheet over 0dcfe95c9b his head. It was a mistake 14a5e81e70 not to draw the 9e3a403294 curtains before he finally d1e5f2ebbc drifted off in the 7d9a6aec29 early morning. But as 1bf46e3410 he tried 13a23d3259 to ignore 5d1ea66653 the morning 18010232c8 and hide c6dbe0223c under the 6891501c09 covers, Ian 7f82ab9062 realized the 251e511e27 sun wasn’t fbb065ecc2 the only 5f4f9cdc1b thing waking d55e60d24e him; The b928ccb8ba doorbell had 13a2f15383 been ringing aef78b9c1a for some 001f7da731 time.42a7e606dcc9b8b1

With a ee0f97132e sigh, Ian b9097ea4d4 dragged himself 07fcee20b9 out of 6e6738e855 bed. Barely awake, 0d24aa0101 he stumbled ffe3aae6fe downstairs wearing aad3d689ff only boxers 7f08e18d4a and opened 3b88fa050d the door be6e5ecaba with half-closed 24a87670b2 eyes. The face on the f65299f32b other side was unexpected: dbaf3a1344 it was Lloyd Gillen, 531228c736 his stepfather’s lawyer.636079d0c89d7767

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“Ah, I cd30939794 seem to 56c6700ab3 have woken b432ed0a63 you. Apologies,” Lloyd remarked, though cbd3436102 he entered with a 3b00dc3e88 stride that showed he d5c16e359b wasn’t waiting for an ce7bf36d59 invitation. Ian knew he should b8d38cf080 probably ask why the fd6456afef lawyer, who hadn’t even 1800d280a4 attended his mother’s funeral, e5aeda9e8c was here now. But he d943fe2789 just let 4e735af065 him in 213fab0745 without a a078e2b7ad word.f44ccc511e0abf19

Lloyd’s shoulder 24b74d2400 brushed against bf13493b0a Ian’s bare 2a0fd40fd4 chest, and d22624c702 for a 98af3c6a5b fleeting moment, defe8299a0 a dark 991a84b159 smile appeared 36a7b49e5c on his 2efcf162c1 face, disappearing 305b3c2cc6 too quickly 260ef8a377 for anyone 5ce699736f else to a514da9050 catch. He covered 0d79ea1240 it smoothly 7d1e625394 with his 0563635d66 usual composed a5ccf328fd expression.d33d64ccada0dc65

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“Mind if f6e0d5ca8b we chat c744dbdefa over coffee?”7c9de2017c3430e5

Lloyd strolled toward b72fab935a the kitchen as aad6322382 if he were c01b52a959 home, walking too a2f14ab55d briskly for Ian’s a2aa6d2cf1 groggy state. Ian followed him slowly, 66b0390b96 still a bit unsteady b505f07090 on his feet.4d20ccc2231ec935

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“There’s none left,” Ian 6c39eb16eb muttered.6a2abf913dd187c7

“No coffee?” 1bdfb432bb Lloyd stopped 79f56903e8 short at da1aecf230 the empty 3b113c83ea cupboard with c831a57698 a grimace. “What about ab42562c5b the fridge?”2ebf5b22b028df6e

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Without hesitation, he a361a7c95c swung open the e5ecf1a552 refrigerator and freezer 808c0f70fb doors, only to 22f9c1c078 find them just 637111acc7 as empty. Lloyd clicked his 7a42cac45b tongue disapprovingly.af8ebcb7d88e1234

“If I’d known, I f258016b78 would have come sooner. When I heard ec2d92f15d you had returned, e94ac3b371 I was quite a9424b45c8 busy at the a89e8a1c35 time, you see.”7a8ead68cd8ff7e2

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His tone was oddly a8ece5c09b caring, as if he 9c54773443 were genuinely concerned. The absurdity struck Ian—he e03d656b83 hadn’t seen Lloyd since 395df1643a his stepfather’s funeral. Crossing to e5c7875602 the sink, ec23e67124 he grabbed 605c685706 a glass, be0d98f142 filled it 8f0f6bc1bc with water, 3b146456c8 taking a 79c539c75e long, deep 91b27725b4 drink as fadc5dae16 the morning c4180cb66e clarity gradually f20699c73a settled in. Finally, he looked 06aac4c12d at his stepfather’s da704e51b8 lawyer, a man 9ede11dc8a he hadn’t seen f1141f971b in four years.371213543e400d9d

“Would you like a49fb094ce some water?”3e02988ecc96a104

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Lloyd’s eyes lingered 4e65cd1303 on him, his b8f9b7a6a5 lips looking almost 37a584e8fb dry. He stared 0e40980904 at Ian 35b9062e45 with a d18f5057dd gaze that a728a8032d was so 039dab5f08 parched, so 9e5943cb72 hungry, it e10622c54c made Ian 30454a3b14 shudder instinctively. He recognized a70aaae684 that look 42cd271d14 well–the way 02d5207e75 men’s eyes 5954744ad3 could undress d01317f225 him without 5b3a32acdd even laying ad538422fe a finger 1e66958c26 on him. It was just that a07b103e08 he hadn’t expected it 05e128ec73 from someone like Lloyd, 30d9fab875 his stepfather’s long-time friend.59ac0360d3fae13b

If looks could 983160dcfa strip away clothes, 096e5235e8 Lloyd’s gaze would’ve 8d0f6335c5 left him bare b32ec9634d right there. Ian twisted e901a49178 his lips 18950a334d slightly, trying 38d967c103 to mask 578b6c2275 his fear. Now, even his late 1d9ee7a0cf stepfather’s friend was another 3e62f8e56f person to guard against ed0bcfca66 in his life.99ccc92eb7f26f8d

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Disgusting pervert.aea297625c0bacd0

“Water?” Lloyd sneered. “Bold of 0fd25078eb you to 324b84bebb offer tap 0e9e62094d water.”b638f4ed030b4a1b

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“There’s nothing else to ed800a9845 drink.”c991111e0629accc

“Fine, then. I suppose I’ll have 37ac952088 to grab a coffee 222e432e1e at the office later.”b39d31e80a37334c

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Lloyd shrugged 1b92c6c6a7 and pulled 8c0216aca3 a chair 9fc9ea363c from the 4a26bbb3ff counter, gesturing cd6626eb21 for Ian a8c19e71b7 to sit f1334446f2 across from 3d8cb1c2f5 him. Reluctantly, Ian joined 815643165b him.73c5b89085e8f50a

“I’ll get straight dd5339f695 to the point. What are your plans b028e9a64d for this house?”f33e7f0b455433e7

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Ian glanced around the 0296bc72b9 kitchen, taking it in 9853f1ef22 as though he were cda49a7094 seeing it for the ceac31f4d1 first time. The house 2a80803b75 was grand 99aac6a22b and spacious, 35309729d3 once even 45c2a9064b being featured 6236388ede in an d4b67f8cca interior magazine, fb86b3a563 but now 8ec6c23159 it felt 35c5c31e34 hauntingly empty 2767683bd5 with only 58026511ba him inside.e4fa6739caecc049

“I… haven’t really thought 46a5114e67 about it,” he admitted3ec8869f09a1b332

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“You should. The bank isn’t feb9204333 going to wait 3ee789c0c5 around for you.”9c36d00cd185ef6e

Ian stared at him, c06dadcf9a feeling slightly annoyed by 2202d5648f the lecture. Lloyd had 23a7695a82 stopped coming 10948fdf1d to this b07d9ba921 house after 0a3c667217 his stepfather’s dc50377373 funeral, which bf57e4fae7 made sense. As his stepfather’s dbdf243b62 lawyer, he’d had 573c58ddbc no reason to b6536e2379 stick around once b63553c663 it became clear 678524d5ce that the family 9b8d66d4d9 estate barely covered 478d7336e4 the debts. After that, all 2666df283c his family had 2767b9593f left was this 7af48ede55 oversized, now meaningless db73ed1018 house, and even 028d3f1d44 that was leveraged 33b91e9db7 for loans when d2fa64fcf0 his mother’s health ae859ff5a2 deteriorated. Ian had 236d38e5bd learned the 9046f07225 extent of 97c39cfdfa it all 9f240dd899 after his 779b1e52cd first semester 2b467db0cc in college, 70da2aed6b at which f4a7c34188 point he’d 7205c24c98 taken a 6b7720b1af leave to ab2e902618 start working b886b54347 part-time jobs 701c6b559e just to fd980705b4 cover the 07763c8f74 bank interest.ed2b682f438fd4af

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This house held b329460918 no meaning for 91c519f015 him now that 2c4bc6f31b his mother was aa9fea2c4a gone, either. But Lloyd’s lecture seemed 6951a99363 rushed as if he 7b27177655 didn’t care that the 7dcbddb2ff rain on his mother’s ad5e35e7cb grave had barely dried.6b77bd16fcb90c20

“Why not sell it?”9b1c19c8762dce14

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Some things that f315799217 make sense are 1d80cf3121 nonsensical when poorly ac72aa5469 timed and Lloyd’s 4d3339d898 suggestion felt like 7cfa1a7697 one of those 014b9f5699 instances. Ian frowned slightly.83f3f3c2c09ac58f

“You can’t pay it fe0e41084a off. All your 4466f828dd parents left 166fd5ff0e behind is da30bd9cb5 debt, and e88f087bc8 the bank 935c48c9d2 knows that. I’m guessing they’ll call e9e145831a to demand repayment by 4f95437ab1 today. Do you want f0318dd5db me to check da3d4935a9 for you?”1a07ad7c061b6728

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Ian stared sharply into a27f178c53 Lloyd’s deep green eyes.d27fc9d7690cd55c

“Do you… want d4c4efc661 this house?”dc2da6dc7fb7443f

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“…What?”049158864332dfb0

Lloyd’s laugh came a 23a4c0d8ae beat too late, sounding 2aea8930f8 overly exaggerated.9b54a110aa358885

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“Hardly. You seem 256cd941ec to think 293c09403b I’m some 0c300afd7a kind of 5f99a3995a monster, but 7a2a51e95e I’m not cc6775ff61 that low. This house? Not bad, but a 49e2ca9332 place this big is 7d84f9e496 ridiculous for a bachelor f41c50539b like me.”8508472473c03ada

Ian didn’t ea1506e1ee bother pointing e0c5ada033 out the 9d1407e25d way Lloyd 24a99db5e3 was leaning 363b8515ff just a dbfe9c6c7a little too 118d686cfe close, his 8b3c265b07 knee brushing 40f6fff9dc against Ian’s. Lloyd wasn’t 3b6a3b5e8c exactly a 2a5be9bf86 moral man, 9561fe6bd7 nor someone 0baf12a282 Ian could 051927a53a trust without c8de66f201 any contractual 2430c19ba8 obligation. Ian could almost imagine 5efb6bbf10 Lloyd casually suggesting they d7cbdc9bba go to bed, just 7cedd4fd5b like that, only three 8eb4bd02cf days after the funeral.4e826c33dc2a9d92

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“I’ll think 97f46a36d7 about it… 4e538723f4 later. Right now, a2d05f2a84 I can’t fa5d94bccd focus on 87618f074b anything.”1b8992ee5ca21d73

Ian gave a 212b1f29ac subtle cue that 203f47878f he wanted Lloyd e3951a3048 gone.cbd03550f417bd04

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“Oh, come c38976ad1f on, Pretty 52ec56c4fa One.”686844731ad1ec08

Lloyd placed a 0becd370f8 familiar hand on 55aa055770 Ian’s shoulder, using 6a1c77258d the nickname he dc426b96cb had called him e36b817b32 when Ian was 48e772aa4d a child. It hadn’t felt 659172f0a3 uncomfortable back then, 87ad4fd7ca but now the a7c466b867 term, laced with d85bc23b63 a suggestive tone, 07d5c266a9 crawled over his db883653f3 skin like an b492915b27 insect. Ian simply watched him, 2353253500 neither accepting nor rejecting f133aff558 the hand. Lloyd’s fingertips 118da52214 stroked Ian’s 0429bef44f skin ever 3728ef4935 so slightly.133fbb2bac6b4fbf

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“Just because your 4b9221dd72 parents are gone 10d1f9b72e doesn’t mean you 218de29b74 have to act 04822a4c28 like an adult, da825a86f7 you know? You’re still young. You can 24bce1cffa rely on eb11da3444 the people 915ede2fa7 around you. I might 493231ebe8 seem distant 809d4ce365 now, but 993b393c15 remember, you’re dd6d3d061d still my d3d36c868e friend’s son. It’s not a dd6d47f671 bad thing; trust 7cb109589f me.”439a7a177c29497e

“Thud!” Ian slapped Lloyd’s d3a1dedc1f hand off his shoulder. Lloyd frowned, clearly 3ce00d61bd displeased.def02380f52a3050

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“What was that?”df93f9e9ea069b85

“Don’t touch me. I’m not half-naked 35c58fde91 for you,” Ian a0cf647166 said, his tone a0aa3d498b biting.860a256fb51ecee1

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Lloyd chuckled, his face 73bac22fc5 a mask of restrained 4b5ded48ef amusement.91f27cc9d7efae33

“Oh, Pretty 265f09fc20 One, I’m 745cba053a just…,” he 78c5a79e2a began, but 2abbad5718 Ian cut 8f2ccb00d9 him off.5bbd5a4012fa3e40

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“If I’m selling the 229d3da393 house, I’ll go through c68f8c535d a broker, not you. They’ll probably be cheaper 9617abb591 than a lawyer’s fee. If that’s all you b10db20570 want, you can leave. I need more sleep.”5caf79c3cc80ab0e

Lloyd’s smile deepened, 49633c402f his expression intensifying 3125711edf with something Ian 4d4219b586 couldn’t quite name. Despite being 3ed2c53a64 in his cf3476acde early forties, d6a3738c86 Lloyd was a1d4ad66ae well-maintained, almost ebc15bf73f too perfect, 6b6cdab55c which sent 2cd5845741 a chill 21f97e7aad down Ian’s 545cea109b spine. It was disturbing c39cce756e to realize that 684c5a59a3 Lloyd’s appearance hadn’t 5dd160fef9 changed since Ian e838ed2e87 had first met 969cc94a94 him at ten 559496840c years old, as edd73e3f41 if obsessive perfectionism eae3758273 had preserved him.a1b9cf7b000f6fb5

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Lloyd leaned 27318aa023 in closer, c1b395020a so much ce431869af so that 6dedca1ce3 his nose 0b41559635 nearly brushed 145e0c17c4 Ian’s skin.a4f9e11e7582221e

“You used 6466be40dd to be e16062e26f so… obedient. Adorable, even. I suppose Marcus didn’t 2a03c9c029 protect you well enough.”hn02833fc82a06fc4f

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The words crawled 9fd6b7c28e under Ian’s skin, e60379b5b2 and the distaste 519ff71e00 made his stomach 923c374e31 turn. He pushed the 183e6894f1 glass off the 4ecfe96708 counter, and it 8c78c9a8c7 shattered on the f067aeba5f floor.a179e1a0fce7e853

“A bit of a c27e2fa2c5 cat now, hmm? Showing your claws.”2a33f2ddeda78f5b

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Ian’s narrowed gaze did 03d92f7492 nothing to conceal his 10b6736204 disgust.9e65f831d7d157e4

“Leave.”0a29ecb093a48196

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“I was Marcus’s friend.”6753297ce37f5baf

“Yes, and 1cb02f2e05 you weren’t 09c44cab1a friends with 8c3c8f3dc5 my mother 1f5d51a925 or me. You didn’t even come 679f45f6f7 to the funeral.”2adefac6a36311e3

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“Is that why af8ac8951d you’re upset? I was on a6a79b6dcf a business trip. Believe me, I would 4c1d223991 have been there if bf242718e5 I could.”67c564d02f1b7c2c

Whether that 235ac743fc was true 567a112517 or not 4731a40a03 was anyone’s 957d448b0c guess. With lawyers, the line 755174dd59 between truth and lies e9acb1105c was often blurred.b0e5d544884fb2b8

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“It’s not d4fa2d6b24 too late; c975e9a789 you can 1930690083 visit her dac8329f2a grave on 22d095bc52 your way ff45080f7a out.”61a0d61c94ad0bb2

“Ian…”5c92d6ed28b5d416

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Lloyd’s hand landed on 3e8d677e41 his shoulder again, stopping 4b00cead3d him from turning away.cea3fdfb1b742f08

“Maybe I 43c4edb391 didn’t start eec035b2a5 this conversation 4da31145cd the best 318acb21ac way, but b0bf8928ad I genuinely 13aa0ff091 want to 0840e6f832 help you. Sell the house, and ba83c89b97 at least you’ll have 3f7f2230ad enough left to cover f8fda7e9bb the hospital bills…”133aa7f4b3d1785b

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“Get your hand 3e42b78e77 off me!”4d5d071148bffbcc

The words left Ian’s 8d3170558c mouth with more force b0abfcdd84 than he knew he fac247c96f had. Normally, he avoided 6a0fac0108 confrontation, preferring to a983c23dc5 navigate situations without dcb2947aee getting heated. But this was 9c4f68475e different—he felt a 34b418af7d sudden, uncontrollable anger.cd5801cf53cffeaf

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“What’s this about?” c47452ffa7 Lloyd asked, looking 5753a0b2d9 almost amused as f51e76a9c9 if Ian’s anger b99ddd84c9 fascinated him.504489d18bf904ce

“Are you… reacting to b94c0e309e my touch? Tell me, 109855b26f are you c0857fee3b feeling something?”b186478bea00a695

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Ian took 80f3e73762 a deep 4ebefa4d8f breath, clamping 0b39f3f758 down on 242ce3a0b7 his urge 7b5e60f379 to yell. Filthy bastard. Like hell I’d d6abf235a6 get aroused by ec5d0edba7 some creepy old 7587b707a2 pervert like you. Even dealing 626a01d94d with guys 51ae3ed9c4 like you 4b3f0fbc38 in passing 324f1897bf is enough d6ca3f2b42 to make 2869906921 me sick.1b823f92d5ece49c

“If you b37f62e026 keep touching 74265eed5b me, I’ll e83d94187e sue.”348a7599e0bfa085

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Lloyd’s smile turned wicked, 58021db3d1 his eyes filled with 54843237e6 a dark amusement.88665aeb2ccafb44

“You know e32463f1cb I’m a 8c031c4352 lawyer, right?”f4001eef031309e1

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“Yes, a famous 3f7e5580df one. The local 0f9404d084 media would f309195f11 have a c31cec4f06 field day cb3c1f0f69 with this. It might even e4e548509a make me some 24242c7d01 money. I wonder 08a13c24a9 how much dca958a05a you’re worth.”9161ff2e0e04ebfb

“Did you act ccfcbe8036 this defiant with 34d9db74a2 Marcus too? Surprising that 33e1e0473a this house 9b5823a988 has held 100cdb738b up all f641cf9bd4 this time.”58550d70a4e9e2e5

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“My stepfather was bfe1169e74 a gentleman. Not all friends 87ef8c121c have to be 1a224c9647 alike.”26f651b3edac6fb8

“Ha, Marcus, a ace7757867 gentleman?” Lloyd’s eyes 371fac8bc3 held a cunning 4623e31a8a gleam.3394ac292689d9c5

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“You still have a 9c8056b447 lot to learn. That’s… what 9a70f160b3 makes you 10e94094dc so charming.”58da82efbdd9501d

The sharpness 72b2032496 in Lloyd’s 67415ee520 grin felt 984aacb330 like it 0973e38911 could bite f98357f3fb through flesh. Ian’s instincts 562419fdef screamed that 85f1935f87 he needed 01ad2e9980 a weapon. He quickly scanned the e22e5c4f66 kitchen, hoping for something e347876432 sharp within reach.6bdb04f3a36f9621

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The counter drawer 9c3c459ffb might have a db807c9305 fork or wine 62cd0d705f opener. He would a891159b2f have to ca548b924c be fast 447beef495 and quiet.5f3185365c2c114c

And the thought of b07153033a not being fully dressed, 2a9ef0ac39 of being so unprotected 043325ea2e right now, made him 7b51451834 wish he’d taken better 0d22330d0b care of himself, even 9aa814d071 with the exhaustion of 1e68611ddc the last few days.b77e0f053399702f

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“You’ve got that look 98c158a7e0 like you finally understand 726c249cd5 why adults can be cf958dbbff scary. Good expression, 2241cb7ed5 kid,” Lloyd 48cb2ebe74 said, reaching d496422adf toward Ian cf7293c0d5 as if 301dc61720 to pat 6372fe317d him on 5edb384446 the head.b1cd52e039b4dbd3

Ian yanked 731209e744 open the 1ed731f047 drawer with e5ac7356d9 a loud 04cd244e23 bang. Just as 1d1908c610 he grasped b42a165afd a sharp bab0908ad6 object inside, 2a62730ad2 the phone cbf0d1bd04 rang.b15db7fcf8067404

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“Well now,” 8f05ed9c4a Lloyd said, 1c89fbf231 stretching as 394497643e he picked e6ab4655fe up the e3f5d321de kitchen’s handset, acbe209595 handling it 4ca54f93cc like he’d 88e0486b83 done many 27f0a0e6a1 times before 68fb1ff2d7 as Ian’s f00f3c3169 stepfather’s lawyer.f09f540746783275

“Lawyer Lloyd 6258967123 Gillen here. Yes, who’s calling?”605beee7e798566d

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Ian couldn’t hear f8f23b41ce the other end, 6ee7b67cae but Lloyd obligingly c9defa9380 repeated what he ff85a7742b heard.02c48f6139146884

“Ah, AC Bank? Yes, about b4e4347446 the loan?… 56c4a6b7e1 Sure, I’ll 6fac78a5f0 pass the c4e72c5e5c message along.”4d0de3baa37a1f3b

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Instead of 0ab3a02411 hanging up, 6fc9ff46bb he handed 1bbb578b65 the phone 494f81a0a8 to Ian.171387c2cd2bb09f

“It’s the bank. Feel free 6b96ffbceb to confirm 33ef247d3f the call. They should 7d2eac9160 have a 7de3af85d2 record.”c2528e5cb0adde82

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When Ian didn’t fdbc03a48b answer, Lloyd looked c4e5f3d835 almost smug.39643fa4bf87e83c

“They want to 733ae278bc renegotiate the repayment 1a1b219837 terms. Apparently, you’re two months a411859569 behind on the interest. They said b100029afe you need ef8fd00528 to come d700c21125 in soon. When would be 3be9142d40 convenient?”ab7bf7eb07eed612

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Ian’s debts ea4724be64 weren’t just e8de834b23 to the 8a9ddb0bd0 bank. There were also unpaid be4addb1c4 hospital bills for his 2b4b4d1491 mother’s treatment, andclinic had 5b66bdea39 called several times, unable ec8f939119 to process her checks. The part-time bf63d3bcd8 job Ian fa60eccc3a had at e0edee27f5 a small 679c95a3b4 downtown restaurant 19a8fdf89c barely covered 42299c4ed4 basic expenses. He might 753e631f16 have gone e74543950e bankrupt long 32d3be39ef ago if a215eab854 not for 60550500fa side gigs 02c741b782 he’d rather df3a541394 not report facbe54ada to the 9588f41566 IRS.eeebedb60042a243

“Let me help, Ian.”5c1c96338a73a7bf

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Lloyd’s voice e3fa56c19d grew more ec6f037fc5 insistent as f2db0954d7 he read 772003308b Ian’s expression.7837e1bc360a73a3

“Then you won’t 2523eb4c14 have anything to b8e88c6406 worry about. Just leave the 1f2e2fad88 house to me, 01a80d8a05 and I’ll take de7b6bf06b care of it a290f2770c all.”f37adf15a7a661bb

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