Chapter 6: My Father's Account
I couldn't look away from Dad.
Two hundred thousand dollars.
His name.
His account.
His daughter standing six feet away, waiting for an explanation.
"Dad?""
He took the statement from me.
"I don't know what this is.""
Linda laughed.
"Of course you don't.""
He ignored her.
"Daniel, what bank is this?""
"Westbridge.""
"I've never banked with Westbridge.""
Linda's laugh stopped.
Daniel studied him.
"Never?""
"Never.""
"Business account?""
"No.""
"Old savings account?""
"No.""
Dad pushed the statement toward Andrew.
"I've used the same bank since I was twenty-three.""
Andrew examined the account number.
"Could someone have opened an account in your name?""
"That's identity theft," I said.
"Potentially.""
Linda shook her head.
"This is pathetic. He gets caught and suddenly he's a victim too?""
Dad turned toward her.
"If this account is mine, I'll answer for every cent.""
Then he pointed at her.
"Will you?""
Linda looked away.
That answer told me plenty.
Daniel took out his phone.
"I can call the investigator who helped me trace the other transfers.""
Linda scoffed.
"You hired an investigator?""
"I hired a forensic accountant.""
Her expression tightened.
Daniel continued.
"His name is Nathan Cole. He found the shell company connected to Linda.""
Andrew nodded.
"Call him.""
Daniel dialed.
Nathan answered after two rings.
"Daniel?""
"You're on speaker. I'm with Emily, Robert Carter, Andrew Walsh, Linda, and Madison.""
A pause.
Then Nathan said, "That sounds unpleasant.""
Under any other circumstances, I might have laughed.
Daniel placed the suspicious statement on the table.
"We found a two-hundred-thousand-dollar transfer to an account labeled Robert Carter.""
"I know.""
Dad leaned toward the phone.
"You know?""
"Yes.""
"Is it my account?""
Another pause.
"No.""
Linda's face went rigid.
I exhaled.
Dad gripped the chair.
"Then why is my name on it?""
"Because someone opened it using your identity.""
Andrew asked, "Can you establish that?""
"I can establish that Robert Carter's information was used. Whether he personally participated requires more evidence.""
Dad nodded.
"Fair.""
I appreciated that he didn't demand to be declared innocent.
Nathan continued.
"The account was opened online. Mailing address was a private mailbox.""
"Who rented the mailbox?"" Daniel asked.
"I'm still working on that.""
Linda reached for her coat again.
This time Madison stood in her way.
"Don't leave.""
Linda stared at her daughter.
"Move.""
"No.""
"Madison.""
"You blamed me for everything.""
"I protected you.""
"You used me.""
Linda stepped closer.
"You have no idea what I've sacrificed for you.""
Madison's voice trembled.
"You told me Emily was trying to take my future.""
"She was.""
"How?""
Linda pointed at me.
"Look at her! She gets engaged to Daniel Whitmore and suddenly everyone treats her like some princess.""
I almost laughed from disbelief.
"So this really is about Daniel?""
"No.""
"Then what?""
"It's about survival.""
Andrew leaned forward.
"Survival from what?""
Linda went silent.
That word changed the room.
Survival.
Not jealousy.
Not greed.
Something else.
Nathan's voice came through Daniel's phone.
"Actually, that may connect to what I found this afternoon.""
Daniel frowned.
"What did you find?""
"Another company.""
Linda closed her eyes.
Just for a second.
I saw it.
"What company?"" I asked.
"Brighton Family Services.""
Dad frowned.
"Never heard of it.""
Nathan continued.
"It's been receiving transfers connected to Carter Residential Holdings for years.""
"How much?""
"Approximately four hundred and thirty thousand dollars.""
I felt sick.
"Who owns it?""
"That's complicated. On paper, ownership changed twice. But there's one consistent authorized signer.""
"Linda?""
"No.""
That surprised everyone.
"Who?"" Dad asked.
Nathan hesitated.
"A man named Thomas Vale.""
Linda whispered, "Stop.""
Daniel looked at her.
"You know him.""
"No.""
Madison stared at her mother.
"Yes, you do.""
Linda turned.
"What?""
"I've seen that name.""
"Where?""
Madison backed away.
"Your phone.""
Linda's face went white.
"When?""
"Last month. You left it in my car.""
"You went through my phone?""
"A message popped up.""
"What did it say?""
Madison swallowed.
"It said, 'Daniel is getting too close.''"
My fiancé went still beside me.
I looked at him.
"You were being watched?""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Apparently.""
Dad stepped toward Linda.
"Who is Thomas Vale?""
"I don't know.""
"Stop lying!""
"I said I don't know!""
Madison shook her head.
"You called him Uncle Tom when I was little.""
Silence.
Dad stared at Linda.
"What?""
Madison's breathing became shallow.
"I remember him.""
"From where?""
"I don't know. We used to visit him.""
"When?""
"Before Mom married you.""
Dad's expression changed.
"How long before?""
Madison looked confused.
"Years.""
Linda snapped, "You were a child. You don't remember anything.""
"I remember his house.""
"Enough.""
"I remember you crying there.""
"Stop.""
"And I remember Emily's dad.""
The room went dead silent.
Dad stared at her.
"Me?""
Madison's face twisted with confusion.
"I think so.""
Linda rushed toward her.
Dad intercepted her.
"Don't go near her.""
Madison pressed both hands against her temples.
"I don't understand.""
I approached slowly.
"Madison, what do you remember?""
"A photograph.""
Linda screamed, "Madison!""
Dad shouted over her.
"Let her speak!""
Madison looked at me.
"There was a picture in Uncle Tom's office.""
"What picture?""
"Mom was in it.""
"With Thomas?""
She nodded.
"And someone else.""
My throat tightened.
"Who?""
She looked at Dad.
"You.""
Dad shook his head immediately.
"No.""
"I remember your face.""
"I'd never met Linda before Susan died.""
Linda suddenly stopped fighting.
Dad looked at her.
"I didn't.""
Linda said nothing.
"Tell them.""
Nothing.
"Linda!""
She stared at him.
Then her expression softened into something almost pitying.
"Oh, Robert.""
Dad went pale.
"What does that mean?""
Before she could answer, Andrew's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
"I need to take this.""
He stepped into the hallway.
The rest of us stood in suffocating silence.
Thirty seconds later, Andrew returned.
His face had changed.
"Emily.""
Something in his voice made my stomach tighten.
"What?""
"That was my office. They found the original intake notes from your mother's estate.""
I gripped Daniel's hand.
"And?""
Andrew looked at Dad.
"Your wife contacted Susan's attorney before Susan died.""
Dad's face emptied.
"Linda?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
Andrew swallowed.
"Nine days before Susan's death.""
Dad staggered backward.
I could barely hear my own voice.
"Why?""
Andrew looked at the document in his hand.
"According to the notes, she wasn't calling herself Linda Carter.""
Linda's eyes widened.
Andrew continued.
"She used another last name.""
Dad whispered, "What name?""
Andrew turned the page.
"Vale.""
Madison made a choking sound.
I looked from Linda to my father.
Then to the ruined dress still lying on the kitchen counter.
Suddenly this wasn't about jealousy.
It wasn't even about money.
Linda had been connected to my mother's estate before my mother was dead.
And my father hadn't known her.
Andrew slowly lifted his eyes.
"There's more.""
Linda lunged for the papers.
Daniel caught her wrist before she reached them.
Andrew stepped back.
Dad shouted, "What else?""
Andrew stared directly at me.
"The notes say Linda wasn't asking about Susan's will.""
My mouth went dry.
"What was she asking about?""
May you like
He answered quietly.
"She wanted to know what would happen to your trust if you died before turning eighteen.""
