Chapter 2: The Missing $42,000
My father didn't shout.
That was what frightened me most.
He stood beside my desk, holding his phone in one hand and the receipt in the other.
Vanessa was clutching the destroyed handbag against her chest.
Kayla had stopped crying.
Even the air conditioner seemed suddenly loud.
"Richard," Vanessa began, forcing a laugh, "you're misunderstanding something.""
Dad didn't look at her.
"I'm looking at a transaction from Emily's education account.""
"Those accounts are complicated.""
"Then explain it.""
She glanced at me.
"Can we discuss this privately?""
Dad finally raised his eyes.
"Why? Did you discuss spending Emily's money privately?""
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
Kayla stepped forward.
"Mom, just tell him.""
"Kayla, stay out of this.""
"But you said Dad knew!""
Dad turned toward her.
"Knew what?""
Kayla immediately looked down.
I stood slowly.
"What's happening?""
Dad walked toward me and held out his phone.
"Emily, do you remember the college account your mother established?""
I nodded.
Mom had started saving for my education when I was a baby. After her death, Dad told me the money would be waiting when I graduated.
He'd promised I wouldn't have to worry about tuition.
"Yes," I answered.
"Your mother deposited money into it every year. After she passed, I continued adding to it.""
He swallowed.
"There should be more than sixty thousand dollars.""
I looked at the screen.
The balance was $3,218.
My knees weakened.
"What?""
Dad scrolled through the transactions.
"Thirty thousand transferred last November. Another twenty-two thousand in February. Then smaller withdrawals.""
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Richard, I was managing the household while you were traveling. There were expenses.""
"Household expenses?""
"Yes.""
"Forty-two thousand dollars in household expenses?""
She raised her voice.
"You have no idea how expensive it is to maintain this family!""
Dad looked at her.
"That account wasn't yours to maintain anything with.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"You were always so busy with work. Someone had to make decisions.""
"Not with my daughter's inheritance.""
I stared at the screen.
One transaction stood out.
$28,000.
PAYMENT: HARRISON & COLE LEGAL SERVICES.
My father stared at the name.
Then he slowly sat down.
"Harrison," he whispered.
I recognized it.
It was the law firm that had handled my mother's estate six years earlier.
"Why did you pay them?"" I asked.
Vanessa didn't answer.
Dad looked up.
"Vanessa, why did you pay the lawyer who handled Emily's mother's will?""
Vanessa reached for his phone.
"Give me that.""
He pulled it away.
"Answer me.""
She exhaled sharply.
"You're making this sound criminal.""
"Then explain the payment.""
"Legal advice.""
"About what?""
She hesitated.
Kayla suddenly spoke.
"Mom, tell him about tomorrow.""
Vanessa whipped around.
"Kayla!""
My heart started racing.
"What about tomorrow?""
Kayla looked at me, then at my father.
"Mom said after graduation, Emily wouldn't be living here anymore.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
Kayla shrugged, but her voice had lost its confidence.
"She said you're finally going to leave.""
"Why would I leave?""
"Because you're eighteen.""
Dad stood.
"Vanessa, what is she talking about?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Emily is an adult. She's going to college. It's normal for children to move out.""
"That's not what you told her, is it?""
She looked away.
Dad stepped closer.
"What exactly did you tell the girls?""
Vanessa sighed.
"I told Kayla that after graduation, things would finally be easier.""
I felt a knot form in my stomach.
"Easier how?""
Vanessa turned toward me.
"Emily, don't start.""
"Start what?""
"Your mother left you money. Your father has spent years making sure you had everything. Meanwhile, Kayla has had to share a home with someone who constantly reminds her that she's second place.""
I stared at her.
"Mom is dead. How am I making you feel second place?""
Vanessa's cheeks flushed.
"Don't twist my words.""
Dad slammed his palm against the desk.
"Enough.""
The room fell silent.
He picked up the receipt again.
"Where did the money go?""
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
"Some went toward expenses. Some went toward investments.""
"What investments?""
"Things that would benefit this family.""
Dad looked at Kayla's handbag.
"Like this?""
Vanessa's face turned red.
"Don't you dare use that against me.""
Dad reached for his phone again.
He opened the transaction details.
"This payment was made directly to Harrison & Cole. Twenty-eight thousand dollars. That's not groceries or household maintenance.""
Vanessa took a step backward.
"Richard, you need to understand. Emily's mother left behind complicated legal arrangements.""
"Such as?""
"The estate.""
"Which was settled six years ago.""
"Not everything was settled.""
Dad looked at me.
"Emily, did your mother ever tell you about a trust?""
I shook my head.
"She told me there was money for college.""
He looked back at Vanessa.
"That's what I thought.""
Kayla was now sitting on the edge of her bed, nervously twisting a bracelet around her wrist.
Dad noticed.
"Kayla, what did your mother tell you about the lawyer?""
Kayla swallowed.
"Nothing.""
"Look at me.""
She raised her eyes.
"She said he was helping her make sure Emily couldn't claim the house.""
My stomach dropped.
"What house?""
Vanessa lunged toward her daughter.
"That's enough!""
Dad caught her arm.
"Don't touch her.""
Vanessa jerked away.
"You're acting like I'm some kind of criminal!""
Dad's voice was cold.
"Then stop giving me reasons to think you are.""
I looked between them.
"The house belongs to you, Dad.""
He shook his head slowly.
"Not entirely.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
He walked toward the hallway and returned with a thick folder he'd kept in his home office.
He placed it on the desk.
"Your mother purchased this property before we married. She left specific instructions about ownership when she died.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I believed everything had been handled properly.""
He opened the folder.
There were copies of legal documents, property records, and several signatures.
Then he stopped.
His face changed.
"Richard?"" Vanessa whispered.
He didn't answer.
He turned one page toward the light.
A signature appeared near the bottom.
My mother's name.
But something about it looked wrong.
Dad pulled a second document from the folder.
Then a third.
His fingers began trembling.
"This isn't possible.""
"What?"" I asked.
He pointed to the date.
The document supposedly transferring part of the house into Vanessa's control had been signed three months after my mother died.
I stepped closer.
"That's not Mom's signature.""
Dad looked at me.
"I know.""
Vanessa's face went pale.
And then Dad noticed something written in tiny print at the bottom of the document.
A witness name.
*Kayla Morgan.*
Dad slowly turned toward his stepdaughter.
"Kayla, you were eleven years old when this document was signed.""
Kayla's lips parted.
"Mom said it was just paperwork.""
Dad's eyes narrowed.
"What paperwork?""
Kayla started crying again.
And Vanessa whispered, "Richard, please don't make her answer that.""
But Dad was already reaching for his phone.
He was calling the attorney.
And when the man answered, Dad asked one question that changed everything.
"Did you prepare a property transfer using my dead wife's signature?""
There was a long silence.
Then the lawyer said something I couldn't hear.
May you like
My father went completely still.
"What do you mean you have the original?""
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