Chapter 3

Officer Miller frowned and turned to me.

I laid out the entire story calmly, clearly, and concisely. I placed all my evidence right on the hallway windowsill: transaction history, bank statements, and utility receipts.

"Every single transaction matches the electric company's records down to the penny. I never charged a fee, nor did I take a dime."

Officer Miller scrolled through the records, his frown deepening.

"Mr. Jenkins, where is your proof that she skimmed kickbacks?"

Mark stiffened his neck. "My mom told me! Last month was eighty-something, and this month is almost two hundred! That’s obviously a scam!"

Officer Miller looked at Mrs. Jenkins. "Ma'am, do you have your bill from last month?"

Mrs. Jenkins rummaged frantically through her purse and pulled out a crumpled paper bill.

Officer Miller took it, paused in surprise, and handed it to me.

I took one look and almost laughed out loud.

It wasn't an electric bill at all. It was a gas bill.

April gas bill: $44.80.

She had confused her gas bill with her electric bill.

"Ma'am, this is for your gas, not electricity," Officer Miller explained patiently. "Your electric bill spiked in June and July because of your air conditioner. Everyone’s bill goes up in the summer."

Mrs. Jenkins froze. She took the paper back, stared at it over and over, and her wrinkled face turned bright red.

"So... I misread it?" she mumbled.

Mark’s expression shifted, but he refused to back down.

"Even if she misread it, this girl shouldn’t be collecting money from seniors! What kind of neighbor charges for favors?"

I locked eyes with him. "I didn't charge a cent."

"Then why do it? What's your angle?"

"In your twisted little mind, does everyone only act out of greed?"

I stood straight, looking him dead in the eye. "I helped them because they're elderly and struggle with technology, and because they were my neighbors. I didn't want money. I didn't want favors. I just believed in being a decent human being."

"Listen to her! Just listen to her!" Mark pointed at me, shouting at Officer Miller. "Look at the performance! Officer, don't let her play you! I’ve seen cons like her a thousand times!"

Officer Miller looked between us and sighed.

"Mr. Jenkins, calm down. If you suspect fraud, file an official inquiry with the utility company. If there’s actual evidence, we’ll open an investigation. But right now, you broke her phone. You owe her restitution for property damage."

Mark opened his mouth to argue, but Mrs. Jenkins tugged at his sleeve, her voice trembling. "Mark... maybe let it go. Maybe I really made a mistake..."

"Mistake? Mom, don't let her fool you!" He shoved her hand off.

I was completely done with this circus.

"Don't bother investigating. And from today on, I'm never paying a single bill for any of you again."

Holding my broken phone, I pulled up the group chat right in front of everyone and hit 'Leave Group.'

Mr. Davis, Mrs. Higgins, Mrs. Cooper—fourteen seniors in total.

I deleted every single contact. As my finger tapped the screen, the memory of their sweet voice notes, their texts calling me a saint, and their cute emojis felt like hard slaps across my face.

"Starting today, pay your own utility bills."