Chapter 2: The Money They Stole From My Daughters
My brother Michael opened his front door at 6:42 a.m.
He took one look at my face, then at the three girls standing behind me.
"Laura? What happened?""
I couldn't answer immediately.
Michael stepped aside.
"Come in. All of you.""
He was a forensic accountant. Numbers were his language, and he'd spent the previous six months warning me that Daniel's business was in serious financial trouble.
I'd defended my husband every time.
Now I wished I'd listened.
Michael brought the girls blankets and cereal while I sat at his dining table and showed him the photographs.
He studied the property transfer agreement first.
Then the custody petition.
His jaw tightened.
"Where did you get these?""
"Beside Daniel's bed.""
Michael looked up.
"With Vanessa?""
I nodded.
He closed his eyes briefly.
"Laura, I need you to understand something. This isn't just about an affair.""
"I know.""
"No. I mean financially.""
He enlarged the photograph of the property agreement.
"Your father left this house to you personally, correct?""
"Yes. It was transferred into my name after he died.""
"And Daniel never had ownership?""
"Never.""
Michael tapped the document.
"Then why is his name listed as the authorized representative?""
I stared at the screen.
"I don't know.""
He opened another photograph.
There was a notarized statement attached to the agreement.
According to the document, I had voluntarily agreed to transfer ownership of the property into a family investment company.
The signature looked almost identical to mine.
But I had never met the notary.
"Michael, can he do this?""
"Not legally, if your signature was forged. But we need to act quickly.""
He turned his laptop toward me.
"There's something else.""
He opened a spreadsheet.
I recognized the account numbers.
They belonged to the investment accounts my father had established for my daughters.
He'd deposited money into them every year until his death.
The accounts were supposed to help pay for college.
Michael pointed to a series of transactions.
"Look at these withdrawals.""
My stomach tightened.
"How much?""
He didn't answer immediately.
"Four hundred and twenty thousand dollars.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"What?""
"Three separate transfers over the last four months.""
"Who authorized them?""
Michael clicked another tab.
"Daniel used a power of attorney that appears to have been submitted last year.""
I shook my head.
"I never gave him power of attorney over my daughters' accounts.""
"That's what I suspected.""
He opened the receiving account details.
The money had gone to a company called Vanessa Mitchell Consulting.
My sister's company.
I felt sick.
"Why would she need that much money?""
Michael leaned back.
"Because she wasn't just sleeping with your husband.""
He enlarged the company registration.
"She was receiving money from him.""
I stared at the screen.
Then I heard footsteps.
Mia stood in the doorway, holding a bowl of cereal.
"Uncle Michael?""
He immediately closed the laptop.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
"Can I ask Mommy something?""
I opened my arms.
"Of course.""
Mia sat beside me.
"Is Dad angry because I told Lily not to go upstairs?""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
Mia lowered her voice.
"Last night, I heard Aunt Vanessa telling Dad that we needed to practice staying with her.""
Michael and I exchanged a look.
"What else did you hear?"" I asked gently.
Mia looked toward her younger sisters.
"She said the judge would believe Dad because you work nights.""
My throat tightened.
"Did they say anything about me?""
Mia nodded.
"Dad said you were always too tired to notice things.""
I held her hand.
"That's not your fault, sweetheart.""
She hesitated.
Then she reached into her pajama pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I found this in Dad's office yesterday.""
I unfolded it.
It was a printed email.
The subject line read:
*FINAL ARRANGEMENTS — MONDAY MORNING*
The sender was Daniel.
The recipient was Vanessa.
There were only three sentences.
Once Laura is declared an unfit parent, the house becomes part of the settlement. Keep the girls with you until the hearing. Don't tell them anything about the money.
I read it twice.
Then I noticed the date.
It had been sent two weeks earlier.
This had been planned long before the night I found them together.
Michael took a photograph of the email.
"We need a family attorney immediately.""
I nodded.
He reached for his phone.
But before he could make the call, my phone rang.
The elementary school.
I answered.
"Hello?""
"Mrs. Mitchell? This is Sandra from Lily's school.""
"Yes?""
Her voice sounded nervous.
"We received a court-related notice this morning instructing us to release Lily to her aunt, Vanessa Mitchell, if she arrives to collect her.""
My blood ran cold.
"That's impossible. Lily is with me.""
There was a pause.
"There's another issue.""
"What issue?""
"Someone submitted paperwork yesterday requesting to change the emergency contacts for all three girls.""
I looked at Michael.
"Who submitted it?""
"The paperwork lists your husband as the requesting parent. It also asks the school to remove you as the primary contact.""
I felt my hands begin to shake.
"Please don't release my children to anyone without verifying the legal authority.""
"Of course, Mrs. Mitchell.""
I ended the call.
Michael was already standing.
"We're contacting an attorney and the school in writing. Right now.""
Then my phone lit up again.
A message from Vanessa.
*You should have stayed at work, Laura. You have no idea what you've walked into.*
I stared at the screen.
A second message appeared.
*Ask Michael what your father really left behind.*
I looked up.
My brother had gone completely pale.
"Michael?""
He didn't answer.
"Why is Vanessa telling me to ask you about Dad?""
He slowly closed the laptop.
"Because there's something I didn't tell you.""
"What?""
He looked toward the girls.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Your father didn't just leave you the house and the girls' trust funds.""
May you like
He paused.
"He left you something worth considerably more.""
