Chapter 4: The Account With Katie's Name
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Katie.
My sister's name was printed beneath the $38,000 transfer.
I zoomed in on the photograph Dad had sent. The bank statement was slightly blurry, but the account number was clear. So was the transaction date.
Three days earlier.
The same day Sienna had asked Grandma what to wear to her birthday party.
I felt sick.
Ben pulled out the chair beside me.
"Nora, what exactly are we looking at?""
I handed him my phone.
He studied the statement.
"Is that Katie's account?""
"That's what it says.""
"Could there be another explanation?""
I shook my head.
"Not for thirty-eight thousand dollars.""
I called Dad.
He answered immediately.
"Have you seen it?"" he asked.
"Yes. Where did you find that statement?""
"In your mother's desk. I went looking for the mortgage documents because I wanted to understand why she was so upset about your canceled transfers.""
His breathing sounded uneven.
"I found a folder with bank statements, transfer confirmations, and printed emails. Nora, there's something very wrong here.""
"Did you confront Mom?""
"Not yet. She's in the restaurant bathroom with Katie.""
I closed my eyes.
"How long has this been happening?""
"I don't know. I only recognized the account number because Katie once asked me to help her open a savings account.""
Ben leaned closer, listening.
I asked, "Dad, did you authorize that thirty-eight-thousand-dollar transfer?""
"No.""
"Did you know Mom had access to Sienna's education account?""
"No! Why would she?""
I looked at the notification again.
"Because she just tried to withdraw the money.""
Dad went silent.
Then he said something that made my stomach turn.
"Your mother told me she had helped you open that account when Sienna was born.""
I stared at the phone.
"That's impossible. I opened it myself.""
"She said she was listed as a secondary custodian.""
I immediately remembered the paperwork from when Sienna was a baby.
Linda had offered to help me organize the documents because I was exhausted after returning to work.
She had insisted on handling some of the administrative details.
I remembered signing forms at my kitchen table.
I remembered her saying, "Don't worry, honey. Grandma just wants to make sure Sienna's future is protected.""
Had I unknowingly given her access?
I opened the account's security settings.
There it was.
An authorized secondary contact.
Linda.
My fingers went cold.
Ben stood up.
"Call the bank and have her access revoked. Tell them the withdrawal wasn't authorized.""
I nodded and contacted the bank's fraud department.
The representative asked me to verify my identity.
Then she reviewed the attempted transaction.
"Ma'am, I can confirm that an external withdrawal request for $38,000 was submitted yesterday. It has not been completed because the additional authorization requirement wasn't satisfied.""
"Who submitted it?""
"I can confirm the request was initiated using the credentials associated with the secondary account contact.""
"Can you block further attempts?""
"Yes. I'll place a temporary restriction while we investigate.""
I gripped the phone.
"Please do that immediately.""
After answering several security questions, I received confirmation that the account had been temporarily protected.
When I hung up, Ben exhaled.
"At least the money is safe.""
"For now.""
My phone buzzed.
A message from Dad.
"Your mother says the transfer was for Katie's children. She says she had permission.""
I stared at the words.
Permission?
From whom?
I called him again.
"Did Mom explain why she transferred the money?""
"She said Katie was struggling financially and needed help with her mortgage.""
I nearly laughed.
"So she used Sienna's education savings to help Katie?""
"That's what she claims.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Dad, that account belongs to my daughter.""
"I know.""
"And the money came from me.""
"I know, Nora.""
His voice cracked.
"I swear I didn't know.""
For the first time that evening, I felt something other than anger.
I felt sorry for him.
But sympathy wasn't going to solve anything.
"Send me every document you found," I said.
"Don't let Mom destroy anything.""
"I won't.""
Just then, another call came through.
Katie.
I answered.
"What?""
Her voice was sharp.
"Mom says you're accusing her of stealing money.""
"I'm not accusing her. I'm looking at a bank statement.""
"You have no idea what you're talking about.""
"Then explain the $38,000 transfer into your account.""
Silence.
Then Katie said, "That money was supposed to be for the family.""
"Which family?""
"Our family!""
"Sienna is part of this family.""
Katie scoffed.
"Don't start with Sienna again.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Did you know that money came from her education account?""
Another silence.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Mom said it was money she had saved.""
"She lied.""
"Well, she told me it was available!""
I closed my eyes.
There it was.
Not an explanation.
Not a denial.
An admission.
Before I could ask another question, Katie said:
"Look, Nora, if you want to destroy Mom's birthday, that's your business. But don't drag me into your financial problems.""
Then she hung up.
Ben looked at me.
"She knows something.""
I nodded.
And just as I was about to call the bank again, Dad sent another photograph.
This time, it was a printed email.
The subject line read:
*RE: The Education Money.*
The sender was Linda.
The recipient was Katie.
May you like
And the first sentence said:
"Once Nora stops checking the account, we can move the remaining balance without her noticing.""
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