Chapter 7: The Money Was Transferred Into My Name
"That's impossible.""
Those were the first words that came out of my mouth.
Daniel stood beside the dessert table, holding the bank document as though it might burn his fingers.
My name was printed beneath the account holder section.
Emily Wilson.
The destination account belonged to me.
But I had never received forty thousand dollars from my brother.
"James, there must be a mistake," I said.
The attorney adjusted his glasses.
"I'm not accusing you of anything, Emily. I'm telling you what the bank records show.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Did you open an account recently?""
"No.""
"Did you give Claire your banking information?""
"Never.""
Claire immediately stepped forward.
"See? She's lying!""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
"You heard the attorney. The money was going to Emily's account.""
"Claire, I don't even know what account you're talking about!""
She pointed at me.
"You've always been jealous of me and Daniel. Maybe you wanted to make sure I never got the money.""
I stared at her in disbelief.
"You've spent the entire afternoon lying about a pregnancy, an adoption, and thousands of dollars. And now you're accusing me?""
Claire crossed her arms.
"Where else would the money go?""
Daniel raised his voice.
"Enough!""
He turned toward James.
"Can the bank tell us when that account was opened?""
James nodded.
"Yes. I have the preliminary records. The account was opened four months ago.""
My stomach tightened.
Four months ago.
Around the time Sophie had started preschool.
Around the time I had been working extra hours at my accounting office.
"Who opened it?"" I asked.
James studied the document.
"The application was submitted online. However, the identity verification was completed using an identification document associated with your name.""
I shook my head.
"I never opened an account.""
James nodded.
"That's why we need the full records.""
My mother suddenly spoke.
"Perhaps Emily forgot. She's always been terrible with paperwork.""
I turned toward her.
"Don't.""
She blinked.
"Don't what?""
"Don't try to make this sound like my mistake.""
Margaret looked offended.
"I am simply trying to help.""
Daniel let out a bitter laugh.
"That's what you've been saying all afternoon.""
James placed the document back into his folder.
"I recommend contacting the bank's fraud department immediately. Nobody should transfer or withdraw anything until the source of the account is established.""
Daniel nodded.
Then he looked at Claire.
"Did you know about this account?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
But her eyes moved toward my mother.
It was brief.
Almost invisible.
I saw it.
So did Daniel.
"Mom?""
Margaret stiffened.
"What?""
"Why did Claire look at you?""
"Don't be ridiculous.""
Daniel took a step toward her.
"Did you open an account in Emily's name?""
My mother laughed nervously.
"Why would I do that?""
"That's what I'm asking.""
Margaret picked up her handbag.
"I've had enough of this humiliation.""
She turned toward the door.
But Rachel stepped aside, revealing that two guests were standing in the hallway, watching.
One of them was a woman named Susan, my mother's closest friend.
Susan looked at Margaret.
"Margaret, I think you should answer him.""
My mother glared at her.
"Stay out of this.""
Susan shook her head.
"I've stayed out of too much already.""
She turned toward Daniel.
"Your mother told me last month that she was setting up an account for Emily.""
My blood ran cold.
"What?""
Susan nodded.
"She said you were having financial difficulties and that she wanted to create a private emergency fund for you.""
I looked at my mother.
"Why would you tell people that?""
Margaret's face tightened.
"I was trying to protect you.""
Susan continued.
"She said Emily had agreed to let her manage the account.""
I shook my head.
"I never agreed to anything.""
Daniel looked at James.
"Can we find out who accessed the account?""
"Yes.""
James removed another paper.
"There's a phone number associated with the verification process.""
He read it aloud.
I recognized it immediately.
It belonged to my mother.
Margaret went completely still.
Daniel looked at her.
"Why is your phone number attached to my sister's account?""
She didn't answer.
Then Claire suddenly spoke.
"Because your mother told me it would be easier that way.""
Daniel turned.
"What?""
Claire looked terrified.
"She said Emily wouldn't notice if the money passed through an account in her name.""
I felt as though the floor had shifted beneath me.
"How much money were you planning to take?""
Claire covered her face.
Margaret snapped.
"Be quiet!""
But Claire continued.
"Forty thousand. It was supposed to be transferred before the adoption became final.""
Daniel stared at his wife.
"Why?""
Claire looked toward my mother.
"She said we needed to recover the money before Rachel changed her mind.""
Rachel stepped forward.
"I never agreed to give anyone forty thousand dollars.""
"I know!"" Claire cried.
"I didn't know what else to do!""
Daniel shook his head.
"You didn't know what else to do?""
He pointed toward Noah.
"You had a child waiting for a family, and your solution was to steal from my sister?""
Claire sank into the chair.
James quietly told Daniel that the matter would need formal investigation.
Then he received another notification on his phone.
He studied it for several seconds.
"There's something else.""
Daniel looked exhausted.
"What now?""
James turned the screen toward me.
It showed an attempted login to my personal bank account.
The location was listed as a device registered to Margaret Wilson.
My mother looked at the screen.
Then at me.
May you like
And finally, she whispered something that made my stomach turn.
"Emily, you weren't supposed to find out about that account.""
