Chapter 2: The Money That Disappeared Before the Car
Dad sat down so suddenly that the kitchen chair scraped loudly against the floor.
He placed his phone on the table.
"Vanessa, explain these transactions.""
She glanced at the screen.
For the first time since I'd known her, she looked genuinely afraid.
"What transactions?""
Dad turned the phone toward her.
"Don't play games with me.""
I moved closer.
The banking history showed dozens of withdrawals.
Some were small.
Others were thousands of dollars.
I recognized several merchant names.
Luxury department stores.
Jewelry boutiques.
Five-star hotels.
A resort in the Bahamas.
Then I saw a payment for $12,400.
It had been sent to a company I'd never heard of.
"What is all this?"" I whispered.
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"These transfers started almost twelve months ago.""
Twelve months.
I'd spent that entire year working weekends, believing my education was secure.
Meanwhile, someone had been emptying the account.
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Richard, you're making this sound worse than it is.""
Dad looked up.
"Almost $94,000 is missing.""
"It's not missing!""
"Then where is it?""
She looked toward Kayla.
Kayla immediately lowered her eyes.
"Mom?""
Vanessa snapped.
"Stay out of this.""
Dad stood.
"Don't speak to her like that. And don't you dare tell me this money was for household expenses.""
Vanessa's voice rose.
"We're married! Everything in this house is shared!""
"Not Emily's inheritance.""
I stared at him.
"How much was supposed to be there, Dad?""
He hesitated.
"Your mother left money specifically for your education. I deposited it into a separate account after she died.""
"How much?""
"Originally, around $180,000.""
My knees nearly gave out.
That was enough to pay for years of university.
Enough to let me focus on studying instead of worrying about tuition.
Enough to honor my mother's dream.
Now it was almost gone.
I grabbed the back of a chair.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Dad's eyes filled with regret.
"Because I thought everything was protected. I handled the account when your mother died. I never authorized Vanessa to use it.""
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"Oh, come on, Richard. You gave me access to the household banking.""
"Not that account.""
"You told me to take care of the finances!""
"I told you to pay the electricity bill!""
Her face flushed.
Kayla slowly moved toward the staircase.
Dad noticed.
"Kayla, stay here.""
She stopped.
"Why?""
"Because I want to know what your mother told you about this money.""
Kayla looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa shook her head almost imperceptibly.
That tiny movement told me more than any confession could have.
Kayla finally spoke.
"Mom said Emily had plenty of money and didn't need all of it.""
I stared at her.
"She told you that?""
Kayla shrugged.
"She said your mother left you a lot. She said you were selfish for keeping it all when we were supposed to be one family.""
I felt sick.
"So you knew?""
Kayla's cheeks turned red.
"I didn't know it was stolen!""
"You were driving around showing off a car bought with my money!""
"Mom said Dad approved it!""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Nobody approved it.""
Vanessa suddenly began crying.
Not the quiet kind of crying.
She covered her face and let out loud, desperate sobs.
"I was trying to help this family! You all make me sound like some criminal!""
Dad didn't move.
"Where did the money go?""
"I borrowed it.""
"From an account that doesn't belong to you?""
"I was going to replace it!""
"With what?""
She didn't answer.
Dad picked up his phone again.
"Give me your banking passwords. I'm calling the bank.""
Vanessa stepped between him and the kitchen counter.
"Richard, please. Don't do this.""
He reached for his phone.
She grabbed his wrist.
"Listen to me! You don't understand what will happen if anyone investigates.""
I watched her face.
Something about that sentence frightened me more than the missing money.
Dad pulled his hand away.
"Move.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Just let me explain privately.""
"No. Not anymore.""
He called the bank and requested an immediate freeze on the account.
While he spoke to the representative, I noticed something on the table.
A printed statement had slipped out of Vanessa's handbag.
I picked it up.
My name appeared at the top.
But the account wasn't my college savings account.
It was a credit account.
I read the outstanding balance.
$38,600.
My mouth went dry.
"Dad?""
He turned.
"What is it?""
I handed him the paper.
He read it twice.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"Why is there a credit account in Emily's name?""
Vanessa stopped crying.
Nobody moved.
Dad examined the statement.
"Emily, did you ever apply for this?""
I shook my head.
"No. I've never owned a credit card.""
He looked at the personal information section.
My date of birth.
My Social Security number.
My home address.
Everything was correct.
Dad's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Vanessa, did you use my daughter's identity?""
She backed away.
"I only borrowed it.""
I felt the room tilt.
"You what?""
"I was going to pay everything back!""
"With my Social Security number?""
Her voice broke.
"Emily, please. You have to understand. I was desperate.""
Dad placed the statement on the table.
"Desperate people don't steal children's identities.""
Vanessa began shaking her head.
"Richard, if you call the police, they'll investigate everything.""
"That's exactly what I'm going to do.""
She suddenly screamed.
"NO! YOU CAN'T!""
Then she blurted out something that made Dad freeze.
"THEY'LL FIND OUT ABOUT THE TRUST!""
I looked at her.
"What trust?""
Vanessa's mouth fell open.
Dad slowly turned toward her.
"What did you just say?""
May you like
She covered her lips.
And for the first time, I realized the missing $94,000 might have been the smallest part of what she'd stolen.
