Page 76 of Twisted Trust

“Have the defendants been sworn in?” The judge is an older, tightly-lipped woman with graying black hair swept back into a short ponytail and oblong glasses balanced on the end of a large nose.

“Yes, Your Honor,” replies the officer of the court.

“Alright.” She sniffs and arranges some papers before her. “Alright, Mister uhh… Claryn?”

“Yes, your honor. I’m George Claryn.”

“You’re suing Miss Jackson here for unpaid rent, utilities, and apartment damage, is that correct?”

“Yes, your honor.”

I watch Maeve stiffen slightly and her hands clasp tightly together.

“For what amount?”

“Eight thousand dollars.”

What?

Maeve told me it was eight hundred, but by the look on her face, she’s as shocked as I am.

“Wait, that’s not right—” Maeve tries to speak, but she’s immediately cut off.

“Wait your turn, Miss Jackson. George, tell me what happened. Miss Jackson — Maeve, is it?”

“Yes, your honor.”

“Maeve was a tenant of yours?”

“That’s correct. She stayed in the apartment for about eight months. At first she kept to herself but because she was pregnant, I ended up helping her quite a bit.”

“I don’t need your life story, George. The only information I care about is the information related to your claim. Now, according to this…” The Judge pauses and glances down. “You’re claiming that Maeve ran out on her lease with you while already owing you two months’ rent, is that correct?”

“Yes, your honor.”

“How much were you charging her?”

“Four hundred.”

“A month?”

“Yes, your honor.”

“That’s very generous.” The judge glances at Maeve.

“She seemed like she was going through a hard time and I was trying to be kind. With the baby and all.”

“So she owed you eight hundred in rent when she disappeared?”

“Yes, your honor.”

“You.” The judge turns to Maeve. “Is this true, you owed him rent? Why did you leave without paying what you owed?”

Maeve swallows hard. “Yes, your honor. I was two months behind on my rent because it was impossible for me to keep a job with a newborn and I got very sick and couldn’t work. I had no income.”

“That’s not Mr. Claryn’s problem, though, is it? You were staying in his apartment on very low rent, correct?”

“Y–Yes, your honor.”