Page 37 of Operation: Integrity

Anyone could look at it as a way to find out secrets, not do what the ranch was intended to do. “That’s sad.”

“Let’s hope Jesus comes back before that happens. Not only because it would be sad, but because I don’t think I could survive a tiny apartment with no dogs or the freedom to ride my horse whenever I want.” He laughed as he pulled into a spot in front of a small nondescript brick building. It looked like it had been there since the 1800s, which gave the feeling of resiliency Kelly needed, even though she doubted the bank had been in that location for that long.

Sam lowered both windows about an inch, then locked the doors as they got out. Zeus didn’t want to stay in the truck when, clearly, the fun was being with them, but after Sam gave a quick whistle, he settled on the seat.

“He’s such a good dog,” Kelly said. “ I wonder if he would take to training to be a support dog?”

“Are you asking if you can have him as a service animal?” Sam raised an eyebrow.

“Maybe, though it doesn’t matter because I don’t have the money anyway. Plus, being without him right now so he could go through training would be hard. I’m really connected to him.” Even now, her heart raced at leaving him in the truck. She wanted so badly to keep him at her side.

Sam took her hand and settled it on his bicep, thenopened the front door for her. The motion was so second-nature, he probably didn’t even realize he was doing it but with it, she suddenly felt at peace once again. No one there could hurt her. Sam was at her side.

He led her over to a woman at a desk just a few feet from the door. “Good morning. I was wondering if we could speak to an account specialist?” Sam asked.

“Absolutely. Do you have an account with us?” The woman glanced between the two of them.

“Yes,” Kelly answered slowly, then tugged her purse off her shoulder. The action felt like she’d been forced to release Sam. She dug out her wallet and tentatively handed her the new license.

The woman typed up something in her computer, glancing back to Kelly every few seconds. She handed the card back to Kelly with a fake smile. “Mr. Andrews will see you shortly. You can wait in that seating area over there.” She pointed to a small circle of three leather chairs near the center of the small bank.

“Thanks,” Sam answered for her and led Kelly over to the chairs. He waited for her to choose a seat, then chose one next to her. “I wouldn’t think it would be more than a minute.”

Kelly snorted. “Probably not. My account is empty. They were probably looking at me like that because they thought you were Nathan. He completely emptied my account of every cent shortly after he added himself to it.”

Sam flinched. “Hopefully we can fix that.”

Mr. Andrews left his office and came to get them. Welcome to West Central Savings and Loan. Please call me Don. What can I do for you folks today?”

Folks. What a weird word. Oddly, it made her feel old. “I have some questions about my account.”

“Then I’m just the guy to talk to. Right this way.” He led them back to his office, which was a glass wall with a sliding door, then motioned for them to sit in the two plastic chairs opposite his desk. They looked uncomfortable, and she found her assessment to be true as soon as she settled into one.

“Now, what kind of questions do you have for me today? I took the liberty of looking up your account before I went to get you and your account is currently in suspension because it’s been empty for a few years.”

She nodded, gathering her thoughts. Defending herself didn’t come naturally. It never had. “I found myself in an uncomfortable situation a few years ago. A man who . . . was close to me . . . took advantage of me and added himself to my account without my permission.”

Don’s brow furrowed. “I beg your pardon? We don’t just add people to accounts. There are signatures and proof that need to take place.”

“He stole my driver’s license and had someone else come in who looked similar enough to me to get away with it. They signed the documents, and he was added to my account. You can look at your screen. When I called into my local bank a few days ago, they even told me that he was the one who emptied the account.”

Don didn’t seem nearly as friendly as he pounded the keys, then gripped his mouse, clicking with so much force it made her shrink back. What had she done wrong? “I’m not blaming you. I’m telling you what happened. My question is, can I get him off my account?”

He abandoned the screen and turned back to her. “What would be the point of keeping that account? It’s empty and I can’t simply take your word for it and remove him. Why don’t we start a new account for you? It’s onlytwenty-five dollars and we could do that while you’re here today.”

Twenty-five dollars could’ve just as well been a million. She had nothing to her name. Not even a penny. “I can’t do that.”

“Then I can’t really help you today. I’m sorry.”

Chapter Seventeen

Kelly leaned against the truck window the whole way home. No amount of cold noses to the palm by Zeus was going to bring her out of it. No bank account. No way to get one without a job. No way to get a job in the situation she was in. No wonder Nathan found it so easy to manipulate her. She had no other option but failure.

The moment Sam pulled back into the Wayside parking lot, she reached for the door. When he parked, she dashed outside.

“Kelly? Where are you going?” He’d tried to get her to talk about her thoughts and feelings on the ride home, but she couldn’t admit how completely down this made her. Her life shouldn’t hinge on twenty-five dollars, but it felt like it did. She resisted the urge to think about the times one of her clients would intentionally give her a tip knowing Nathan hated that, would take it, and would accuse her of keeping some back even if she didn’t. That client would always come back to her the next day to see the damage one of Nathan’s men would do to her facebecause of it. Asking him not to would only mean he’d give her a bigger tip the next time, ensuring a more severe punishment.

Nathan didn’t trust her word because he couldn’t see honesty in anyone.

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