Ma'am Evelyn, I think it's time you tell me what's going on." She shook her head. " You don't want to know. You don't want to be involved." " Already involved.
Moment I pushed your wheelchair up that ramp, I was involved. Moment Sarge decided you needed protecting, I was involved. And moment those two men threatened you in your own home, I was definitely involved." He leaned forward. " So help me understand.
Who's Wade Kimball? Why do you owe $78,000? And why are men showing up at your house putting hands on you?" Evelyn was quiet for a long time. Outside a car drove past.
A dog barked somewhere down the street. Normal sounds. Normal day. Except nothing about this was normal. Finally, she spoke. "
Harold, my husband, he died 4 months ago. Lung cancer. We knew it was coming. Had time to prepare. Or thought we did."
She paused. Gathered herself. " Two years before that, we had a car accident. T-bone collision. Harold was driving.
Walked away with bruises. I got She gestured at the wheelchair. This. Spinal injury. Doctors said I'd never walk again." "
I'm sorry." " Medical bills were $340,000. Insurance covered 180. We still owed 160." Her hands twisted in her lap. "
Harold took out a second mortgage. 160,000 against the house. It was all we had left. This house. We bought it in 1978.
Raised our whole life here. No children, so it was just us. Just our home." She took another breath. " But the mortgage wasn't enough.
I needed physical therapy, specialized equipment, medications. The costs kept coming. And Harold's cancer, we found it a year after my accident. Stage four. Treatment was expensive.
Experimental drugs weren't covered. We were drowning." " That's when Wade Kimball showed up," Garrett said. " 18 months ago. Harold was desperate.
The bank wouldn't give us another loan. We had no family to borrow from. And then Wade appeared. Said he could help. Said he specialized in helping veterans.
Harold served in Desert Storm. Medical Corps. Same operation you did." Garrett felt something cold settle in his stomach. " How much did Kimball lend you?" "
80,000." " Interest rate" Evelyn looked at the floor. " 38%." " Christ." Garrett ran a hand over his face. "
That's loan sharking. Illegal in Arizona. Maximum legal rate is 10%." " I know. I know that now.
But Harold was dying. He couldn't think straight. The pain medication, the chemo had made him foggy. And Wade was so kind. So understanding.
He said he'd helped dozens of veterans. Said he just wanted to give back." Her voice turned bitter. " He gave back, all right. He gave us a death sentence.
Harold didn't understand the terms. He understood we needed money. He understood the house was collateral. But the interest rate, the compound structure, the balloon payment, all that fine print Wade rushed him through, he didn't catch it. Didn't realize what he was signing.
When did Harold pass? 4 months ago, March. And that's when I learned the truth. Wade showed up a week after the funeral, said the loan was due. All of it.
80,000 plus accumulated interest. 114,000 total. Plus the 78 you owe the bank. $192,400. She said it like an execution date.
I have 31,000 in savings, 15,000 from Harold's life insurance. That's it. That's everything we have left. Wade won't take partial payment. Wade doesn't want money.
Evelyn looked up, met his eyes. He wants the house. This house is worth 285,000. He'll take it for 114,000 in debt, sell it for full value, pocket the difference. Garrett felt rage building.
The cold, controlled kind that had gotten him through combat. The kind that didn't explode, just focused. " How many others?" he asked. " What?" "
How many other people has he done this to?" Evelyn's face went pale. " You know?" " Dorothy at the diner mentioned you're not the only one." " Said Wade Kimball has a reputation.
How many, Evelyn?" She closed her eyes. " 43 families that I know of over the past 12 years. All of them veterans or veteran families. All of them desperate." "
All of them trapped in the same contract Harold signed." Her voice dropped to a whisper. " Seven of them committed suicide." " The shame of losing everything, the hopelessness." " Three marriages ended in divorce.