to it?”
I slowly leaned back.
Now I understood the panic.
The Mercedes had been badly damaged.
They had wanted the repair done quickly.
They had refused to pay.
And then they had used the vehicle in another financial arrangement.
But there was more.
Laura continued.
“They’re saying the damage may affect the collateral value.”
I rubbed my forehead.
“So what does that have to do with me?”
“They want the invoice cleared.”
“Then pay it.”
“We can’t.”
“You’re still driving a Mercedes worth more than my house.”
“We can’t sell it.”
“Why?”
“Because the lender has a claim against it.”
I was quiet.
Then I asked:
“So you’re telling me that you refused to pay a seven-thousand-dollar repair bill, and now you can’t sell or refinance the car because of another financial problem?”
“Yes.”
I couldn’t help it.
I laughed.
Not loudly.
Not cruelly.
Just once.
Laura went silent.
