Chapter 6: The Eighty-Thousand-Dollar Lie
For a moment, I thought I hadn't heard him correctly.
"Eighty thousand dollars?""
Michael nodded, even though he was on the other end of the phone.
"That's what the document says.""
"That's impossible.""
"I know.""
"Michael, I have never transferred that kind of money anywhere.""
"I believe you, Emily.""
But his voice wasn't steady.
I could hear fear beneath it.
"Where did she get the document?""
"She brought a printed bank statement to the police station. It supposedly shows a transfer from our joint account.""
I stared at the ceiling.
The joint account contained our savings for Sophie's future, the money we'd put aside for maternity leave, and the emergency fund we'd built over four years.
Eighty thousand dollars was nearly everything.
"Did the money actually leave the account?""
"I checked. No.""
I exhaled shakily.
"Then it's fake.""
"Probably.""
"Probably?""
Michael went quiet.
I sat up carefully, ignoring the pain in my abdomen.
"Michael, listen to me. Your mother is trying to make me look like a criminal. She wants everyone to believe I stole money, forged documents, and manipulated you.""
"I understand.""
"No, you don't. She pushed me down those stairs. She could have killed Sophie.""
His breathing changed.
"I know.""
"Then stop treating this like another family disagreement.""
There was a long silence.
Finally, Michael said, "You're right.""
Later that morning, Detective Bennett returned with a financial investigator.
His name was Robert Hayes.
He carried a laptop and a thick folder.
"Mrs. Carter, we examined the document your mother-in-law submitted.""
He placed a printed copy on my bedside table.
At first glance, it looked like a legitimate bank statement.
My name was correct.
The account number was correct.
Even the bank logo appeared authentic.
But something was wrong.
"The transaction reference doesn't match your bank's numbering system," Robert explained.
"So it's fake?""
"Yes. And whoever created it had access to some of your genuine account information.""
I looked at Michael.
He shook his head.
"I didn't create it.""
Robert continued.
"We also discovered that the overseas account listed on the document belongs to a company registered under a different name.""
"Whose name?""
He opened another page.
"Diane Carter.""
Michael stood abruptly.
"What?""
Robert turned the document around.
"The company was established fourteen months ago. Its registered director is your mother.""
I felt sick.
Fourteen months ago.
That was around the same time Diane began insisting that Michael should let her manage our finances.
Robert pointed to another line.
"There's something else. The company has received several deposits from an account connected to your mother's personal banking.""
Michael stared at the screen.
"Where did the money come from?""
"We're still tracing it. But the amounts are consistent with money being withdrawn from a personal savings account in installments.""
I looked at him.
"Michael, does your mother have access to any of our accounts?""
"No. I removed her access months ago.""
Robert nodded.
"That may be important. We found an attempted login using your wife's personal details two days before the incident.""
My fingers tightened around the blanket.
"From where?""
Robert checked the report.
"Your home.""
Michael went completely still.
Then his phone rang.
The caller ID displayed MOM.
He stared at it.
"Don't answer," I whispered.
But Detective Bennett raised a hand.
"Actually, Mr. Carter, answer it. Put it on speaker.""
Michael did.
"Hello, Mom.""
Diane's voice immediately filled the room.
"Michael, thank God. I've been trying to reach you.""
"What do you want?""
"I need you to come home. The police are asking ridiculous questions, and I need you to explain what happened.""
"You pushed Emily.""
A pause.
Then Diane sighed.
"Michael, I already told you. She slipped.""
"We have the video.""
Another silence.
Then her voice became colder.
"That little boy's recording doesn't show everything.""
"It shows you pushing her.""
"She was threatening me!""
Michael gripped the phone.
"She was carrying your grandchild.""
Diane gave a short, bitter laugh.
"And now everyone is acting as though I'm some kind of monster.""
Detective Bennett leaned closer.
"Mrs. Carter, this is Detective Bennett. We need you to come in for questioning.""
Diane immediately changed her tone.
"Of course, Detective. I'll cooperate. I have nothing to hide.""
Then she spoke directly to Michael.
"Son, before you make another mistake, you need to look inside your father's old storage box.""
Michael frowned.
"What storage box?""
"The one in the attic. Your father left something there before he died.""
Michael's face changed.
"My father?""
"Yes.""
"What does this have to do with Emily?""
Diane lowered her voice.
"Everything. Your father knew what kind of woman Emily was before you married her.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
Diane heard me.
Then she said something that made the entire room fall silent.
"Ask your husband why his father left him a letter warning him never to trust the woman he married.""
The call ended.
Michael stood motionless.
I looked at him.
"Your father left you a letter?""
He slowly shook his head.
"I've never heard of it.""
Detective Bennett closed her folder.
"Mr. Carter, I suggest you find that storage box with an officer present.""
Michael stared at his phone.
Then he looked at me.
And for the first time since the accident, I saw something in his eyes that frightened me more than Diane's lies.
May you like
He looked genuinely afraid of what his father might have written.
Because if that letter existed, it could reveal that Diane's obsession with destroying our marriage had started long before she ever pushed me down those stairs.
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