Chapter 6: My Mother's Money
"What trust account?""
Dad looked at me.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he pulled out a chair.
"Sit down.""
I didn't.
"Dad, what trust account?""
Mia backed away from the counter.
"I'll give you guys privacy.""
"No.""
I looked at her.
"Stay.""
Dad exhaled.
"When your mother died, she left money for you.""
My heartbeat quickened.
"How much?""
"A little over one hundred and eighty thousand dollars.""
I stared at him.
Mia's mouth fell open.
"You never told me.""
"You were eleven.""
"I'm eighteen now.""
"I planned to tell you this summer.""
"Why not before?""
"Because Laura was very specific.""
Dad rubbed his hands together.
"The money was supposed to help with college, your first home, emergencies. Your mother didn't want you growing up thinking there was a large account waiting for you.""
I sat down slowly.
"Who can access it?""
"Technically, I'm trustee until you're twenty-one. But withdrawals require documentation.""
"Then how could anyone try?""
Dad's expression darkened.
"That's what my attorney is investigating.""
Mia whispered, "Mom.""
Dad looked at her.
"We don't know that.""
"She knew about the will.""
"Knowing about the will doesn't mean she knew about the trust.""
Mia shook her head.
"She did.""
Dad went still.
"How?""
Mia walked upstairs without answering.
She returned two minutes later carrying her laptop.
She opened it on the kitchen counter.
"Mom borrowed this last week because hers was updating.""
Her fingers moved across the keyboard.
"I noticed she'd downloaded something.""
A folder opened.
There were scanned documents inside.
Insurance forms.
Bank statements.
And something labeled BENNETT FAMILY TRUST.
Dad leaned closer.
His face changed.
"Where did she get these?""
"I don't know.""
He opened another file.
A scanned copy of his driver's license.
Then his signature.
Then a trust withdrawal form.
I felt sick.
"Is that your signature?""
Dad stared at it.
"It looks like mine.""
"Did you sign it?""
"No.""
Mia covered her mouth.
"Oh my God.""
Dad immediately called his attorney again.
This time he put the call on speaker.
A woman answered.
"Richard?""
"Karen, I found something.""
He explained.
Her voice sharpened.
"Do not delete or alter those files.""
"We won't.""
"I'm notifying the financial institution that any pending transaction is disputed.""
"Was money taken?""
"Not yet. The request was flagged because the destination account didn't match any previously approved beneficiary expense.""
I gripped the counter.
"Destination account?""
Karen paused.
"Richard, Ava is there?""
"Yes.""
"Then she should hear this.""
My skin prickled.
"The request was for forty-eight thousand dollars.""
Mia whispered, "Jesus.""
"Where was it going?"" Dad asked.
"An account at another bank. We're still verifying ownership.""
Dad looked at Mia's laptop.
"When was the request submitted?""
"Yesterday afternoon.""
Graduation eve.
Vanessa had been in the house all day.
I remembered her asking Dad whether he needed help organizing paperwork.
I remembered thinking nothing of it.
Karen continued.
"Richard, don't confront anyone about the financial documents until we've preserved everything properly.""
Dad looked toward the front door.
"Vanessa already left.""
"Good. Keep the laptop secure. I'll call first thing tomorrow.""
The call ended.
Silence swallowed the kitchen.
Mia sat down.
"This is my fault.""
"No," I said.
She looked at me.
"You gave her access to Dad's files?""
"No.""
"Then this isn't your fault.""
She stared at me as if she hadn't expected kindness.
Dad closed the laptop.
"We don't know exactly what happened yet.""
I thought about Vanessa's words earlier.
You couldn't let her have one thing?
Suddenly, the dress seemed almost small.
"What would she need forty-eight thousand dollars for?""
Dad didn't answer.
Mia did.
"I might know.""
We both turned.
She looked terrified.
"Two months ago, I heard Mom arguing with someone on the phone.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
"What did she say?""
Mia swallowed.
"She said, 'Richard can never find out how much I owe.''"
Dad's face drained.
"How much she owes?""
Mia nodded.
"Then she said she'd have the money after graduation.""
My heart stopped.
"After my graduation?""
"I didn't know what she meant.""
Dad stood so quickly his chair scraped across the floor.
He walked toward his office.
We followed.
He unlocked a cabinet and began searching through folders.
"What are you looking for?""
"Bank statements.""
He pulled out a thick file.
Then another.
His movements became frantic.
Finally, he stopped.
One folder was empty.
Dad stared at it.
"What's missing?""
He looked at me.
"Statements from the joint account.""
Mia whispered, "Mom took them.""
Dad reached for his phone.
Before he could dial, headlights swept across the front windows.
A car had pulled into our driveway.
Mia walked toward the curtain.
"Is she back?""
I joined her.
Vanessa stepped out of the passenger side.
But she wasn't alone.
A man I'd never seen before climbed out of the driver's seat.
Tall.
Gray suit.
Silver hair.
He walked around the car and placed a hand on Vanessa's shoulder.
Dad came up behind us.
The moment he saw the man, his entire body stiffened.
"Dad?""
He didn't answer.
The stranger looked directly toward our window.
Dad whispered one name.
"Daniel.""
I turned toward him.
"Who is Daniel?""
Dad's voice was barely audible.
"My former business partner.""
May you like
Then Vanessa reached for Daniel's hand.
And Dad's face went completely pale.
