Chapter 5: The Money Was Never for My Mother
Daniel waited until Vanessa ended the call.
He didn't want another argument.
He wanted answers.
"Who were you talking to?""
Vanessa jumped.
"Daniel! You scared me.""
"Who were you talking to?""
"My mother.""
"I heard that.""
She placed her phone on the counter.
"Then why ask?""
"What's the second document?""
Her expression changed.
"What second document?""
"The one you said I hadn't seen.""
Vanessa picked up her coffee mug.
"You're imagining things.""
Daniel took out his phone.
"I recorded the conversation.""
Her mug stopped halfway to her mouth.
"Why would you do that?""
"Because I no longer know when you're telling the truth.""
Vanessa placed the mug down.
"You're becoming paranoid.""
"Show me the document.""
"I don't have it.""
"Where is it?""
"I said I don't have it!""
Daniel watched her face.
Then he noticed something on the kitchen counter.
A small white envelope was partly hidden beneath a grocery receipt.
He picked it up.
Vanessa immediately reached for it.
"Don't touch that!""
Daniel pulled it away.
The envelope contained a printed bank statement.
He unfolded it.
At the top was the name of a private financial services company.
Below it were several transfers.
Daniel read the first one.
$2,000.
Then another.
$2,000.
Then another.
Every month, for nearly two years.
He recognized the account number.
It was the account into which he transferred money for Evelyn's care.
But the receiving account wasn't a medical provider.
It belonged to Patricia.
Daniel looked up.
"Why is my mother's money going to your mother?""
Vanessa's face turned white.
"That's not what it looks like.""
"Then explain it.""
"Patricia was helping me manage household expenses.""
"With two thousand dollars a month?""
"Some of it was reimbursement.""
"For what?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
Daniel placed the statement on the counter.
"I've been transferring that money for Mom's food, medication, and care.""
"And she's been getting those things!""
"Apparently not.""
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Do you have any idea how expensive this household is?""
Daniel stared at her.
"I pay the mortgage.""
"There's more than a mortgage!""
"I pay the utilities, groceries, insurance, and Ethan's school fees.""
"And I manage everything else!""
Daniel took a breath.
"Then show me the expenses.""
Vanessa laughed.
"You want receipts now?""
"Yes.""
"You think I'm stealing from you?""
"I think money intended for my mother has been transferred into your mother's private account.""
Vanessa's eyes filled with angry tears.
"You make me sound like some kind of criminal.""
Daniel didn't respond.
He picked up his phone and called his bank.
"Good morning. I'd like to speak to someone about several unauthorized transfers from a joint account.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Daniel, don't.""
He turned away.
"Yes, I can provide the transaction dates.""
"Hang up!""
He raised one hand.
"Please review the receiving account and tell me whether any standing authorization exists.""
After several minutes, the representative confirmed the transfers had been initiated using the household account credentials.
Daniel requested a formal transaction review and asked the bank to secure the account against further transfers.
When he ended the call, Vanessa was standing near the refrigerator.
Her face had lost its color.
"You're freezing our account?""
"I'm protecting the money.""
"What about the household?""
"I'll cover legitimate household expenses.""
"And my mother?""
"She can pay for her own expenses.""
Vanessa stared at him.
"You can't do that.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Why not?""
"Because she's my mother!""
"And Evelyn is mine.""
Vanessa turned away.
For the first time, she had no immediate response.
Daniel went upstairs to check on Evelyn.
He found her sitting with Ethan, who was showing her something on his tablet.
"Look, Grandma. This is the dog I want.""
Evelyn smiled.
"He's adorable.""
"His name is Max.""
"Then I hope Max is a good listener.""
Ethan laughed.
Daniel watched them for a moment.
It reminded him of the evenings when he was a child and his mother would sit beside him while he did homework.
He had been so busy building a successful career that he'd stopped noticing the small things happening inside his own home.
"Mom, have you had breakfast?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Ethan brought me some toast.""
Daniel looked at his son.
"Thank you, buddy.""
Ethan shrugged.
"Grandma shouldn't have to eat alone.""
Daniel felt his throat tighten.
He sat beside them.
"That's right.""
A few minutes later, his phone rang.
The caller ID showed Laura Bennett from Silver Pines.
"Mr. Carter, I'm calling with an update.""
"Yes?""
"Our financial department has reviewed the documents submitted by your wife.""
Daniel stood.
"What did you find?""
"The $8,500 deposit came from your joint account. However, the additional financial authorization appears to have been submitted using a separate property ownership document.""
"What property document?""
"A copy of a deed relating to Westbrook Avenue.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"That property is protected by a trust.""
"That's what our legal team noticed. We haven't processed the application because the documentation doesn't match the ownership records.""
"Thank you. Please preserve every document.""
"Of course.""
Before ending the call, Laura added something.
"Mr. Carter, there is one more thing.""
Daniel waited.
"The person who submitted the paperwork asked whether your mother would have access to her telephone after admission.""
Daniel frowned.
"Why?""
"She said it would be better if family communication went through a designated contact.""
Daniel's grip tightened.
"Who was the designated contact?""
"Your wife.""
Daniel thanked her and ended the call.
He returned to the bedroom.
Evelyn was watching him.
"Something wrong, sweetheart?""
Daniel sat beside her.
"Mom, did Vanessa ever tell you that you wouldn't be allowed to call me if you moved into Silver Pines?""
Evelyn's face changed.
She lowered her eyes.
Daniel waited.
Finally, she whispered:
"She said it would be easier if I stopped calling you about little things.""
"What little things?""
"She said you were busy. That I shouldn't bother you with every problem.""
Daniel took her hand.
"Did she take your phone?""
"Sometimes.""
"When?""
"When you were traveling for work.""
Daniel stared at her.
"How often?""
Evelyn hesitated.
"She kept it for several days once.""
Daniel felt a wave of anger rise.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"She said I was becoming forgetful. She said you might think I couldn't look after myself.""
Evelyn's voice became smaller.
"I was afraid you'd believe her.""
Daniel couldn't speak.
He remembered calling his mother during a business trip three months earlier.
Vanessa had answered.
She'd told him Evelyn was sleeping.
The next day, she'd said Evelyn wasn't feeling well.
He had accepted every explanation.
Now he wondered how many calls his mother had never received.
Daniel kissed her hand.
"I'm sorry.""
Evelyn shook her head.
"You didn't know.""
"But I should have.""
His phone vibrated.
A message from Ethan appeared.
*Dad, can you come to my room? I found something.*
Daniel frowned.
He excused himself and walked down the hall.
Ethan was sitting on his bed with an old tablet.
"What's going on?""
Ethan turned the screen toward him.
"I was looking for my school project, but this was open in Mom's account.""
Daniel leaned closer.
It was an email conversation.
The subject line read:
*RE: Westbrook Avenue Property Transfer*
The first email was from Vanessa to Patricia.
Mom, I need you to keep the original document safe. Daniel cannot find out about the transfer until everything is completed.
The reply came two days later.
Don't worry. Once the paperwork is finalized, we'll have enough to settle everything.
Daniel scrolled down.
There was another attachment.
A scanned document bearing his mother's name.
But the signature was unfamiliar.
He zoomed in.
The document wasn't a care facility authorization.
It was a power of attorney.
And it gave someone else control over Evelyn's financial and property decisions.
Daniel looked at the date.
It had been signed six weeks earlier.
He turned toward Ethan.
"Where did you find this?""
"It was in Mom's email. I wasn't trying to look at her stuff.""
Daniel hugged his son.
"You did the right thing telling me.""
Then he noticed the recipient's name.
The power of attorney had been sent to a law firm.
A firm Daniel recognized.
It was the same firm that had handled his father's estate.
And the attorney listed as the primary contact was his father's former business partner.
A man who had attended the funeral.
A man who had once told Daniel that he would always protect the Carter family.
Daniel took a screenshot.
Then he called the law office.
A receptionist answered.
"Good morning, Bennett and Cole.""
"My name is Daniel Carter. I need to speak with Mr. Robert Cole immediately.""
"May I ask what this concerns?""
"An attempted transfer of property belonging to my family.""
There was a brief pause.
"Mr. Carter, Mr. Cole is unavailable.""
"Then tell him I have a copy of the power of attorney submitted under my mother's name.""
The receptionist went quiet.
Finally, she said:
"One moment, please.""
A minute later, a man's voice came on the line.
"Daniel?""
It was Robert Cole.
Daniel gripped the phone.
"I need to know why your firm is processing documents concerning my mother's property without my knowledge.""
Robert exhaled.
"Daniel, I was hoping we could speak before you discovered that.""
Daniel's stomach dropped.
"Discovered what?""
May you like
The lawyer lowered his voice.
"Your wife isn't the only person involved in this arrangement.""
