Chapter 8: The House Bought With My Husband's Money
I didn't sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Robert sitting at our kitchen table, carefully writing Ethan's name on an envelope.
He'd believed he was protecting his son's future.
Instead, someone might have used that money to buy a luxury home.
At seven the next morning, Patricia called.
"Margaret, I've received preliminary information from the financial institution.""
I sat up.
"What did they find?""
"The trust was never closed. It was transferred into a managed investment account shortly after Robert's death.""
"Who authorized that?""
"According to the records, Ethan became the primary beneficiary. You were listed as a secondary contact.""
I frowned.
"Then how could Brooke move the money?""
"That's what we're investigating. But the institution has identified several transfers.""
"How many?""
"Four.""
My stomach tightened.
"How much?""
Patricia paused.
"One hundred and eighty-two thousand dollars in total.""
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
"Where did it go?""
"The first transfer went into an account associated with Ethan's company. The second went to a property escrow account. The remaining transfers went through two separate business accounts.""
I stared at the wall.
"The house?""
"Possibly. We're waiting for the escrow records.""
"Can the money be recovered?""
"That depends on where it went and who authorized the transfers.""
I swallowed.
"Did Ethan sign them?""
"One authorization appears to carry his electronic approval. Another has a signature that requires examination.""
I closed my eyes.
"Thank you, Patricia.""
She continued.
"There's something else. The financial institution says the transfer requests included an authorization letter from you.""
My stomach dropped.
"Another fake signature?""
"That's what it appears to be.""
I stood and walked toward the kitchen.
"Patricia, I need to know whether anyone has used my identity to open other accounts.""
"We're requesting a broader review.""
After the call, I made myself breakfast.
I couldn't eat.
At ten, Richard arrived.
He looked as if he'd spent the night awake, too.
"I spoke to Patricia," he said.
I poured him coffee.
"Did you know about the trust?""
"No. But I found something in Brooke's office yesterday.""
He placed a small envelope on the table.
Inside were copies of bank transfer confirmations.
Richard pointed to the first one.
"These came from a business account connected to Ethan's company.""
I examined the figures.
The first transfer was for $45,000.
The second was $62,000.
The third was $75,000.
Together, they accounted for the entire trust.
"Where did you find these?""
"In a folder Brooke left in the study.""
I looked at him.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?""
"Because I wanted Patricia to verify them first.""
He took a breath.
"Margaret, there's something I need to confess.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"Brooke approached me about investing in the company months ago. She said Ethan had developed a successful property-management platform.""
"And you believed her?""
"I believed Ethan.""
Richard looked down.
"I gave them an initial investment of thirty thousand dollars.""
I sat back.
"Did you get it back?""
"No.""
I didn't know what to say.
For the first time, I realized Richard wasn't simply trying to protect his family reputation.
He'd lost money too.
"How much more did she ask for?""
"Two hundred and fifty thousand. I refused because the financial statements didn't add up.""
I studied his face.
"Why didn't you warn me?""
"I thought Ethan would tell you.""
I gave a small, bitter laugh.
"Apparently, we both trusted him too much.""
At noon, Patricia arrived with a preliminary report.
She placed several documents on the table.
"The escrow company has confirmed that $62,000 from the trust entered the account used for the down payment on Ethan and Brooke's home.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"And the rest?""
"Some went toward company expenses. The remaining amount was transferred through an account registered to a company called BH Lifestyle Holdings.""
Richard frowned.
"That's Brooke's private business.""
Patricia nodded.
"According to the corporate records, she is the sole director.""
I stared at the paperwork.
"So she used Robert's money to help buy the house, then transferred some of it into her own company?""
"That's what the records currently indicate.""
I looked at Richard.
"Does Ethan know?""
Before he could answer, my phone rang.
Ethan.
I answered.
"Mom, we need to meet.""
"Why?""
"Brooke and I are having a problem.""
I almost laughed.
"That seems to be a recurring theme.""
"Please. It's serious.""
"Then tell me.""
He lowered his voice.
"The bank has frozen the company's operating account.""
I looked at Patricia.
She nodded slightly.
"Why?""
"They received a complaint about the financial guarantees.""
"Was it a complaint or a report about possible forgery?""
He didn't answer.
"Mom, they also want information about the trust.""
I closed my eyes.
"Good.""
"Good?""
"Yes. Maybe now someone will finally find out where your father's money went.""
Ethan's voice cracked.
"Mom, I didn't know she transferred everything.""
"But you knew the account existed.""
"Yes.""
"And you let her use it.""
"I thought we could replace the money before anyone noticed.""
I felt something inside me break.
"Before anyone noticed?""
He went quiet.
"Your father saved that money for you, Ethan. He didn't save it so you could gamble it on a business you couldn't afford.""
"Mom, I made mistakes.""
"You made choices.""
He began crying.
"I know.""
I held the phone away from my ear for a moment.
Then I asked, "Where is Brooke?""
"She's upstairs.""
"Does she know we're talking?""
"Yes.""
"Put her on.""
He hesitated.
Then I heard movement.
Brooke's voice came through.
"Margaret, I don't know what you've been telling Patricia, but you're making a terrible situation much worse.""
I looked at the documents.
"Did you use my husband's money to buy your house?""
She laughed sharply.
"It was Ethan's trust.""
"Did you use it?""
"It was family money.""
"That wasn't my question.""
She sighed.
"Robert wanted Ethan to have a good life. That's exactly what we're building.""
I gripped the phone.
"Your father-in-law wanted his son to have a future. He didn't give you permission to empty his account.""
"Don't lecture me about money, Margaret. You have no idea what it costs to maintain the lifestyle Ethan deserves.""
I stared at the kitchen window.
Then I said something I'd never thought I'd say to my daughter-in-law.
"If you ever use my name or my husband's money again, I'll make sure every dollar is accounted for.""
Brooke went silent.
Then she laughed.
"Fine. But before you start making threats, perhaps you should ask Ethan what happened to the rest of his father's inheritance.""
The line went dead.
I turned toward Patricia.
"What does she mean?""
Patricia looked down at her report.
Her expression had changed.
"Margaret, the trust records show the account originally held more than the amount we identified.""
"How much more?""
She turned the page.
"An additional seventy-four thousand dollars was withdrawn in two separate transactions several years ago.""
I stared at her.
"Who withdrew it?""
Patricia pointed to the authorization line.
Ethan Collins.
My son.
And beneath his signature was a note indicating that the money had been used for an emergency family expense.
I looked at the date.
May you like
It was the year Robert died.
And suddenly, I wondered whether my son had been hiding something from me long before Brooke ever entered our family.
