Chapter 8: The Account Nobody Was Supposed to Find
Ms. Bennett called Dad that afternoon.
The financial institution had confirmed that an account connected to the reference number existed, but it had not yet verified the disputed beneficiary amendment. The institution was reviewing its historical records, including the account-opening documents and the identity checks associated with the changes.
Dad put the call on speaker so Tyler and I could hear.
“Can you tell us who owns the account?”” Dad asked.
“Not conclusively yet,” Ms. Bennett replied.
“The bank's initial response identifies a trust-related account with a historical connection to Rebecca Carter. It does not establish that the current account holder is entitled to the funds.””
“What about Peter Reeves?””
“His name appears in a supporting document. That is not proof he controls the account.””
Dad thanked her and ended the call.
I sat at the kitchen table, staring at the photocopy Tyler had given us.
“Why would someone forge Mom's signature after she died?””
“Money,” Tyler said bitterly.
“It always comes back to money.””
Dad shook his head.
“Sometimes people forge documents to control something they believe they deserve. Sometimes they do it to hide something else. We don't know which explanation fits.””
I looked at him.
“Do you think Laura knew the signature was fake?””
“I think we need to ask her.””
Dad tried calling Laura again. This time, she answered.
“Michael, I've already told you everything I know.””
“No, you haven't.””
“I have nothing else to say.””
“Then answer one question. Did you know about the beneficiary amendment dated after Rebecca's death?””
Silence.
Dad's eyes narrowed.
“Laura?””
“Where did you get that document?””
“That's not an answer.””
She exhaled sharply.
“I found it among the old papers. I didn't create it.””
“Did you know it might be fraudulent?””
“I suspected something wasn't right.””
I felt my fingers curl around the edge of the table.
“You suspected it was fake, and you still took my money?””
Laura's voice softened.
“Emma, I was trying to help Tyler.””
“You took thirty thousand dollars from me.””
“I didn't take all of it for the car.””
“That doesn't make it better!””
Dad interrupted before I could continue.
“Laura, you will preserve every document you have. Ms. Bennett will contact you about providing a formal statement. If you destroyed or altered anything, you need to tell her.””
“I didn't destroy anything.””
“Then why is the box missing from your office?””
Another silence.
Finally, Laura said, “I moved it somewhere safe.””
“Where?””
“I won't tell you over the phone.””
Dad's jaw tightened.
“Then tell our attorney.””
He ended the call.
Tyler stared at the table.
“She knows more than she's admitting.””
“Obviously,” I replied.
He looked at me.
“I know you hate me.””
“I don't hate you, Tyler. I'm angry. There's a difference.””
He nodded slowly.
“I deserve both.””
That evening, Dad and I went through the old family albums. We found pictures of my mother at charity events, holding me as a baby, and standing beside Dad in front of our first house.
In several photographs, Peter Reeves appeared in the background.
Sometimes he stood beside my mother. Sometimes he was talking to Daniel. Once, he was holding a cardboard box while my mother unlocked the front door.
“Were they close?”” I asked.
Dad studied the pictures.
“They worked together. Your mother trusted people easily, but she wasn't careless. If she was worried about Peter, she had a reason.””
“Could he be my father?””
Dad's eyes lowered.
“It's possible. But a photograph cannot answer that question.””
I swallowed.
“Would you want to know?””
He looked directly at me.
“If you want to know, I'll help you find out. Whatever the result says, it won't erase the life we've shared.””
I leaned against his shoulder.
For a few minutes, the house felt almost normal.
Then the doorbell rang.
Dad went to answer it.
A courier stood on the porch holding a large envelope addressed to Michael Carter. There was no return address, only a printed label and a delivery confirmation.
Dad signed for it and brought it inside.
The envelope contained copies of financial statements, a short letter, and a flash drive.
The letter was typed.
Mr. Carter,
Your wife was not the only person who tried to protect Emma. The attached records show that the original account was created for her benefit, but the funds were moved after Rebecca's death.
Do not trust Daniel Reeves.
Do not trust Laura Carter.
And above all, do not assume the person who sent these documents is trying to help you.
Dad read the letter twice.
He placed the flash drive beside the laptop but didn't insert it.
“We're taking this to Ms. Bennett tomorrow,” he said.
I picked up the statement copies.
The first page showed a deposit made shortly before my mother died. The second showed a transfer several months later. The third contained a series of withdrawals, each bearing a reference number.
One of those numbers matched the five-thousand-dollar payment from my savings.
I looked closer.
The recipient account was listed under a company name I had never heard before.
*Reeves Family Consulting LLC.*
“Dad,” I said, “this company received the money.””
He examined the statement.
“That's what the document says. We still need the bank to verify it.””
Tyler leaned over the table.
“Daniel owns a consulting company.””
Dad immediately photographed the page.
Then he noticed something at the bottom.
A handwritten note had been added in blue ink.
The original funds were never meant for Emma.
I felt cold.
“What does that mean?””
Dad stared at the words.
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
Ms. Bennett was calling again.
“Michael,” she said, “the bank has located the original beneficiary amendment. The signature appears to have been witnessed by a person who was not employed by the institution.””
Dad gripped the phone.
“Who witnessed it?””
Ms. Bennett hesitated.
“Laura Carter.””
The room went silent.
Then she added, “And there's another problem. The amendment doesn't merely change the beneficiary. It claims Rebecca had a second child.””
I stared at Dad.
“What?””
Ms. Bennett continued.
“The document identifies a second child born within the same week as Emma. We have not verified the claim, but the record is significant.””
Dad looked as though the walls were closing in around him.
I grabbed his arm.
“Dad, who is this other child?””
He couldn't answer.
Because at that exact moment, Tyler turned his phone toward us.
A message had arrived from the unknown number.
It contained a photograph of a young woman who looked almost exactly like me.
May you like
And beneath the photograph were six words:
Your sister has been looking for you.
