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Side stories may reveal events, characters, or developments that appear later in the story. Viewing content this way can present information out of the intended reading order and may affect the original narrative experience.
Recommended Context
Recommended to be read after reaching this point of the main story:
Part 4 Chapter 24: Epilogue
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The Payroll Nightmare
Matt had been home from rehab for a couple of weeks, adjusting to life again. There was still a long way to go, but at least he was handling the essentials.
Which was why he had the last two years of pay statements spread across the coffee table.
He started sorting them by month.
One line jumped out before the numbers did.
Active-duty hazard pay?
Matt frowned and checked the amount. It wasn’t small.
He grabbed another. And another. Then another.
Apparently he’d been hanging off a collapsing scaffold twice a month in a wheelchair.
Lucy was in the kitchen sipping her tea.
“Hey, you’ve been handling our finances, right?”
“Yeah?”
“Did you notice I’m still getting active-duty hazard pay?”
“Might have.”
“And?”
“Figured it’d be more trouble to give it back.”
“And no part of you thought to maybe say something?”
“No part of me thought you’d want to deal with HQ while in a hospital bed.”
“I’m not even in active duty!”
“Elevators were hazardous for you. Sounds fair to me.”
Matt gave her a flat look.
Lucy held his gaze and took another slow, unbothered sip of tea.
“Payroll.”
“This is Matthew Hartfield. I need someone to explain my payroll.”
“Of course, sir. How can I help?”
“I’m on medical leave. Why am I receiving hazard pay?”
“One moment, sir. Let me check your records.”
Matt waited. He heard a gasp.
“And?”
“Uh. It’s just—this isn’t supposed to happen.”
“It’s been happening for two years. Fix it.”
“You’re telling me,” the payroll supervisor said, “hazard pay was approved with no expiration date?”
“Correct,” the junior officer said.
“Oh my god. Cancel it, now.”
An error message popped up.
Error: Clearance Level Insufficient.
They clicked again.
Error: Clearance Level Insufficient.
“…Oh no.”
“Now what?”
“This is… that file.”
The supervisor leaned in, actually reading the screen this time—
Hartfield. The file they buried years ago, never to be reopened.
“Right. Then we do nothing.”
“But—”
The supervisor gave them a long, tired look.
“Do you want to be the one to explain this?”
The junior officer did not.
Silence.
Then, one by one, everyone in the office nodded.
Matt checked his latest pay stub.
Hazard pay was still there.
He tossed it aside and picked up his phone.
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