Chapter 7: The Company## Chapter 7: The Company My Father Had Buried
The crash upstairs sounded like My Father Had Buried
The crash upstairs sounded like a glass cabinet hitting the floor.
Dad was moving before the noise stopped.
“Stay here,” he told a glass cabinet hitting the floor.
Dad was moving before the noise stopped.
“Stay here,” he told me.
I followed him anyway.
At the top of the staircase, Denise's bedroom door stood open. A suitcase lay on its side beside the bed, clothes scattered across the carpet. Her jewelry box had been overturned me.
I followed him anyway.
At the top of the staircase, Denise's bedroom door stood open. A suitcase lay on its side beside the bed, clothes scattered across the carpet. Her jewelry box had been overturned, and several necklaces were tangled around a pair of high heels.
Denise stood beside the dresser, clutching a thick manila envelope.
Jordan appeared in the hallway behind us.
“What happened?”” he asked.
Dad looked at the envelope.
“What's, and several necklaces were tangled around a pair of high heels.
Denise stood beside the dresser, clutching a thick manila envelope.
Jordan appeared in the hallway behind us.
“What happened?”” he asked.
Dad looked at the envelope.
“What's in your hand, Denise?””
“Nothing that concerns you.””
“Then put it down.””
She tightened her grip.
“You've already decided I'm guilty. Why should I give you anything?””
“Because we're trying to understand why money was transferred out of Jasmine's accounts without her permission.””
Denise laughed bitterly.
“You don't want to understand. You want someone to blame.””
Dad stepped into the room.
“I want answers.””
“And what happens when you get them? Will you throw me out? Will you tell everyone I destroyed your family?””
“If the evidence shows you've done something wrong, there will be consequences.””
Her face twisted.
in your hand, Denise?””
“Nothing that concerns you.””
“Then put it down.””
She tightened her grip.
“You've already decided I'm guilty. Why should I give you anything?””
“Because we're trying to understand why money was transferred out of Jasmine's accounts without her permission.””
Denise laughed bitterly.
“You don't want to understand. You want someone to blame.””
Dad stepped into the room.
“I want answers.””
“And what happens when you get them? Will you throw me out? Will you tell everyone I destroyed your family?””
“If the evidence shows you've done something wrong, there will be consequences.””
Her face twisted.
“You always were good at making promises when it was convenient.””
She shoved the envelope into her suitcase.
Dad reached toward it, but she slammed the lid shut.
“Don't touch my things!””
“Then stop hiding documents related to an investigation.””
Denise backed away from him“You always were good at making promises when it was convenient.””
She shoved the envelope into her suitcase.
Dad reached toward it, but she slammed the lid shut.
“Don't touch my things!””
“Then stop hiding documents related to an investigation.””
Denise backed away from him.
For a moment, she looked as if she might scream again. Instead, she glanced at me.
“You really think your father is going to protect you forever?””
I held.
For a moment, she looked as if she might scream again. Instead, she glanced at me.
“You really think your father is going to protect you forever?””
I held her gaze.
“I think I can protect myself now.””
Her expression changed.
It was a small change, but I saw it clearly. Denise had spent years treating my silence as weakness. She had mistaken my her gaze.
“I think I can protect myself now.””
Her expression changed.
It was a small change, but I saw it clearly. Denise had spent years treating my silence as weakness. She had mistaken my willingness to avoid conflict for an inability to stand up for myself.
That mistake had cost her control.
Dad held out his hand.
“Give me the envelope.””
“No.””
“Den willingness to avoid conflict for an inability to stand up for myself.
That mistake had cost her control.
Dad held out his hand.
“Give me the envelope.””
“No.””
“Denise.””
“You have no idea what you're asking for.””
“Then tell me.””
She looked toward the window.
Outside, the street was quiet. A delivery truck passed the house, itsise.””
“You have no idea what you're asking for.””
“Then tell me.””
She looked toward the window.
Outside, the street was quiet. A delivery truck passed the house, its engine rumbling through the glass.
Finally, Denise sat on the edge of the bed.
“The company was called Carter Development Services,” she said.
Dad went still.
“That company closed three years ago.””
“I know.””
“I sold its remaining equipment, paid its creditors, and engine rumbling through the glass.
Finally, Denise sat on the edge of the bed.
“The company was called Carter Development Services,” she said.
Dad went still.
“That company closed three years ago.””
“I know.””
“I sold its remaining equipment, paid its creditors, and filed the final paperwork. There was nothing left.””
“You believed there was nothing left.””
“What are you talking about?””
Denise opened her suitcase again and removed the envelope.
Inside were several printed statements, copies filed the final paperwork. There was nothing left.””
“You believed there was nothing left.””
“What are you talking about?””
Denise opened her suitcase again and removed the envelope.
Inside were several printed statements, copies of business registrations, and a photograph of a document bearing Dad's signature.
She spread the papers across the bed.
“I found a way to keep the company alive.””
Dad picked of business registrations, and a photograph of a document bearing Dad's signature.
She spread the papers across the bed.
“I found a way to keep the company alive.””
Dad picked up the registration.
The company name was familiar, but the registration number was different from the one he remembered.
“This is a separate legal entity,” he said.
“Yes.””
“Registered under whose name?””
Denise didn't answer.
Dad turned up the registration.
The company name was familiar, but the registration number was different from the one he remembered.
“This is a separate legal entity,” he said.
“Yes.””
“Registered under whose name?””
Denise didn't answer.
Dad turned the page.
His face tightened.
“Denise Carter?””
She nodded.
“You registered a company using my business name?””
“I used a similar name. I never claimed it was the page.
His face tightened.
“Denise Carter?””
She nodded.
“You registered a company using my business name?””
“I used a similar name. I never claimed it was the same company.””
“You knew customers would confuse them.””
“They trusted you. That was the point.””
Dad stared at her.
“You used my reputation to attract business?””
“I used the the same company.””
“You knew customers would confuse them.””
“They trusted you. That was the point.””
Dad stared at her.
“You used my reputation to attract business?””
“I used the opportunities available to me.””
“And the money?””
Denise looked away.
“Some of it came from the company. Some came from personal accounts.””
Daniel's warning echoed in my head.
*We may be dealing with opportunities available to me.””
“And the money?””
Denise looked away.
“Some of it came from the company. Some came from personal accounts.””
Daniel's warning echoed in my head.
We may be dealing with more than unauthorized withdrawals.
Dad examined another statement.
“These transfers came from Jasmine's account.””
Denise's jaw tightened.
“I borrowed money to keep the company operating. I intended to repay it.””
“You more than unauthorized withdrawals.*
Dad examined another statement.
“These transfers came from Jasmine's account.””
Denise's jaw tightened.
“I borrowed money to keep the company operating. I intended to repay it.””
“You used my daughter's education fund to finance a business you owned?””
“The business was struggling. If it collapsed, I would have lost everything.””
“You weren't entitled to use her money!””
“I was trying to build used my daughter's education fund to finance a business you owned?””
“The business was struggling. If it collapsed, I would have lost everything.””
“You weren't entitled to use her money!””
“I was trying to build something for Jordan!””
Jordan, standing in the doorway, looked stunned.
“Me?””
Denise turned toward him.
“Yes, you! I wanted to give you a future. Your father had his company, Jasmine had her college fund, and I had nothing of my own.””
Dad stared at her.
“You something for Jordan!””
Jordan, standing in the doorway, looked stunned.
“Me?””
Denise turned toward him.
“Yes, you! I wanted to give you a future. Your father had his company, Jasmine had her college fund, and I had nothing of my own.””
Dad stared at her.
“You had a home, access to our household finances, and a husband who trusted you.””
“And I was still dependent on you!””
The admission came out like a scream.
For the first time, I understood something about Denise without excusing what she had had a home, access to our household finances, and a husband who trusted you.””
“And I was still dependent on you!””
The admission came out like a scream.
For the first time, I understood something about Denise without excusing what she had done.
She had resented depending on Dad. She had resented the money my grandmother saved for me, the education my mother wanted me to have, and the security she believed I had inherited simply by being his daughter.
But instead of building her own future honestly, she had tried to take mine.
Dad placed done.
She had resented depending on Dad. She had resented the money my grandmother saved for me, the education my mother wanted me to have, and the security she believed I had inherited simply by being his daughter.
But instead of building her own future honestly, she had tried to take mine.
Dad placed the papers on the bed.
“How much money did you put into this company?””
Denise rubbed her forehead.
“I don't know the exact amount.””
“Guess.””
“More than forty thousand.””
“And the papers on the bed.
“How much money did you put into this company?””
Denise rubbed her forehead.
“I don't know the exact amount.””
“Guess.””
“More than forty thousand.””
“And how much did the company earn?””
She said nothing.
Dad looked through the remaining statements.
The business had made payments to contractors, purchased equipment, and paid monthly fees for how much did the company earn?””
She said nothing.
Dad looked through the remaining statements.
The business had made payments to contractors, purchased equipment, and paid monthly fees for an office that no longer existed. Several transfers went to an account with no obvious connection to the company.
Then he found a payment made two weeks earlier.
The recipient was a consulting firm.
He read the name aloud.
“Northbridge Advisory.””
Denise's face went an office that no longer existed. Several transfers went to an account with no obvious connection to the company.
Then he found a payment made two weeks earlier.
The recipient was a consulting firm.
He read the name aloud.
“Northbridge Advisory.””
Denise's face went white.
Dad looked up.
“Do you know this company?””
“No.””
“You just turned pale when I read its name.””
“I've never heard of it.””
Jordan stepped closer.
“Mom, white.
Dad looked up.
“Do you know this company?””
“No.””
“You just turned pale when I read its name.””
“I've never heard of it.””
Jordan stepped closer.
“Mom, that's the company that called you last month.””
She whipped around.
“Be quiet!””
He flinched.
Dad's voice hardened.
“Who called you?””
Jordan swallowed that's the company that called you last month.””
She whipped around.
“Be quiet!””
He flinched.
Dad's voice hardened.
“Who called you?””
Jordan swallowed.
“A man. He said Mom owed him money. He kept asking when she'd make the next payment.””
Dad studied the statement.
“How much?””
“Five thousand.
“A man. He said Mom owed him money. He kept asking when she'd make the next payment.””
Dad studied the statement.
“How much?””
“Five thousand dollars,” Jordan replied.
“I heard them arguing about it.””
Denise snatched the papers off the bed.
“That's enough. You don't know what dollars,” Jordan replied.
“I heard them arguing about it.””
Denise snatched the papers off the bed.
“That's enough. You don't know what you're talking about.””
Dad caught the edge of the folder before she could close it.
“Then explain why your company is paying a consulting firm with money taken from Jasmine's education fund.””
She pulled the papers away.
“Because I was desperate!””
The room fell silent.
Denise covered her mouth.
Dad stared you're talking about.””
Dad caught the edge of the folder before she could close it.
“Then explain why your company is paying a consulting firm with money taken from Jasmine's education fund.””
She pulled the papers away.
“Because I was desperate!””
The room fell silent.
Denise covered her mouth.
Dad stared at her.
“Desperate for what?””
She sank onto the mattress.
“The company had debts. I couldn't keep up with the payments. I thought if I could get through one more month, everything would turn around.””
“And when at her.
“Desperate for what?””
She sank onto the mattress.
“The company had debts. I couldn't keep up with the payments. I thought if I could get through one more month, everything would turn around.””
“And when it didn't?””
“I borrowed more.””
“From whom?””
Denise shook her head.
“I can't tell you.””
Dad looked at the papers again.
Then he noticed a document at the bottom of the envelope it didn't?””
“I borrowed more.””
“From whom?””
Denise shook her head.
“I can't tell you.””
Dad looked at the papers again.
Then he noticed a document at the bottom of the envelope.
It was a loan agreement.
The signature line bore his name.
But the signature wasn't his.
He knew it immediately.
“So that's why you needed Jasmine's identity,” he said quietly..
It was a loan agreement.
The signature line bore his name.
But the signature wasn't his.
He knew it immediately.
“So that's why you needed Jasmine's identity,” he said quietly.
“You were moving money to keep your company running, and you used my name to secure a loan.””
Denise stood abruptly.
“I did what I had to do!””
“You forged my signature?””
“I was “You were moving money to keep your company running, and you used my name to secure a loan.””
Denise stood abruptly.
“I did what I had to do!””
“You forged my signature?””
“I was going to fix it!””
Dad looked as if she had struck him.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then he folded the document and placed it carefully on the bed.
“Don't move going to fix it!””
Dad looked as if she had struck him.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then he folded the document and placed it carefully on the bed.
“Don't move these papers. Don't destroy anything. We will have the documents reviewed by the appropriate professionals.””
Denise laughed through her tears.
“You think you're these papers. Don't destroy anything. We will have the documents reviewed by the appropriate professionals.””
Denise laughed through her tears.
“You think you're going to walk away from this untouched? You think your company is as clean as you pretend?””
Dad frowned.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at him with a sudden, terrible confidence.
“You want to know why I going to walk away from this untouched? You think your company is as clean as you pretend?””
Dad frowned.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at him with a sudden, terrible confidence.
“You want to know why I used your name? Ask yourself why I knew exactly where to find those old business records.””
Dad's expression changed.
“Because you were my wife.””
“No,” Denise whispered.
“Because you left used your name? Ask yourself why I knew exactly where to find those old business records.””
Dad's expression changed.
“Because you were my wife.””
“No,” Denise whispered.
“Because you left something behind when you closed that company.””
She pulled one final sheet from the envelope.
It was a photocopy of an old accounting ledger.
Dad stared at it.
His hands began to tremble.
I had never seen him look frightened before.
“What is this?”” I asked.
He didn't something behind when you closed that company.””
She pulled one final sheet from the envelope.
It was a photocopy of an old accounting ledger.
Dad stared at it.
His hands began to tremble.
I had never seen him look frightened before.
“What is this?”” I asked.
He didn't answer.
Denise leaned toward him.
“Now do you understand why I couldn't let anyone investigate?””
Dad raised his eyes to hers.
“Where answer.
Denise leaned toward him.
“Now do you understand why I couldn't let anyone investigate?””
Dad raised his eyes to hers.
“Where did you get this?””
She smiled through her tears.
“From the company records you told everyone had been destroyed.””
Then she pointed to a line near did you get this?””
She smiled through her tears.
“From the company records you told everyone had been destroyed.””
Then she pointed to a line near the bottom of the page.
Beside it was a transfer dated three days before my mother died.
And the name attached to that transfer wasn't Denise's.
It was my father's.
the bottom of the page.
Beside it was a transfer dated three days before my mother died.
May you like
And the name attached to that transfer wasn't Denise's.
It was my father's.
