Chapter 3

"Who said you could touch our things without our permission?!

"You're the reason we have nowhere to live!

"And now you don't want to take responsibility for anything. No way!"

Beth was red-faced and hoarse from screaming, and she planted herself squarely in front of me.

Another recruit jumped in. "Exactly! You had us move in, and now we're out on the street!

"If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have ended up like this.

"Now you want to put the casino back the way it was, pay a little fine, and call it done? No way!"

Spit flew in my face as they shouted. Several of them closed in around me, looking ready to tear me apart.

"The punishment came from the affairs office. Coming after me won't change anything."

I kept my voice steady and looked at each of them.

Beth relaxed her fists and stared at me for a moment. "The affairs office only cares about getting the casino restored. You threw us out, so shouldn't you find us somewhere to go? At least we could cook for ourselves at the casino. Now what are we supposed to eat?"

Someone chimed in. "Exactly! Food and rent cost money. And I bought a new mattress for my room."

"I bought a new wardrobe."

"I bought some paintings, too."

I looked at them coldly. "Everything's in the main hall. Nothing of yours is missing. Go get it yourselves."

When I finished, Beth's face hardened.

A few more people pressed in around me.

"What gives you the right?! You're trying to weasel out of this, aren't you?!"

"When we lived at your place, the water and electricity kept going out. My room had no window, and the light was so dim my eyesight got worse.

"And now you don't want to take responsibility for any of it!"

They grew more agitated, their faces flushed as they glared at me. One man clenched his fist as if he might swing at me.

"Then what do you want from me?"

I'd never taken a cent in rent from any of them. I'd even spent my own money to make their lives easier. Now they were like a pack of dogs that could never be fed enough.

Beth stepped forward. "You caused this. We're not trying to make things hard for you. Find us somewhere to live. Until we're settled, pay for our food and moving costs. And pay for whatever we need for the new place, too."

I watched her in silence as the people around her murmured their agreement.

"The affairs office ordered me to restore the casino, and I'm paying a fine on top of that. It's done, and your belongings are all there.

"If anything's missing, I'll pay for it. I never charged you rent. I won't find you a place to live or pay for your food. I'll give each of you some money, and you can make your own arrangements."

For old times' sake, I was giving them one last chance.

As soon as I finished, a few of them seemed to waver.