Chapter 8: The Transfer Before My Mother Died
Dad stared at## Chapter 8: The Transfer Before My Mother Died
Dad stared at the ledger as though the paper had become something dangerous.
“That transaction was never the ledger as though the paper had become something dangerous.
“That transaction was never supposed to be in these records,” he whispered.
Denise folded her arms.
“That's what you told supposed to be in these records,” he whispered.
Denise folded her arms.
“That's what you told me when I found it.””
Dad looked up sharply.
“You knew about this before?””
“I found the ledger while sorting the old company files. I recognized the account number. I asked you me when I found it.””
Dad looked up sharply.
“You knew about this before?””
“I found the ledger while sorting the old company files. I recognized the account number. I asked you about it, remember?””
“I told you I would look into it.””
“You told me it was nothing.””
“Because I believed it was nothing!””
His voice echoed through the bedroom.
I stood beside the doorway, trying to understand what I was seeing. My father had spent about it, remember?””
“I told you I would look into it.””
“You told me it was nothing.””
“Because I believed it was nothing!””
His voice echoed through the bedroom.
I stood beside the doorway, trying to understand what I was seeing. My father had spent the previous two days protecting me from Denise's accusations. Now he was staring at a financial record connected to the final days of my mother's life.
And he looked terrified.
“What does the transfer mean?”” the previous two days protecting me from Denise's accusations. Now he was staring at a financial record connected to the final days of my mother's life.
And he looked terrified.
“What does the transfer mean?”” I asked.
Dad didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he took the ledger from Denise and examined the numbers.
The transaction was dated three days before my mother died. It listed a substantial payment from the old company account to an account identified only by a reference number.
Beneath it, someone had written a I asked.
Dad didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he took the ledger from Denise and examined the numbers.
The transaction was dated three days before my mother died. It listed a substantial payment from the old company account to an account identified only by a reference number.
Beneath it, someone had written a note in blue ink.
*Emergency reserve — E.C. authorization.*
“What's E.C.?”” I asked.
Denise looked at Dad.
He rubbed his forehead.
“Evelyn Carter. note in blue ink.
*Emergency reserve — E.C. authorization.*
“What's E.C.?”” I asked.
Denise looked at Dad.
He rubbed his forehead.
“Evelyn Carter. My mother.””
I blinked.
“Grandma?””
“She was involved in the company bookkeeping before I hired an accountant,” Dad explained.
“But she wouldn't have authorized a transfer like this without telling me.””
Denise let out My mother.””
I blinked.
“Grandma?””
“She was involved in the company bookkeeping before I hired an accountant,” Dad explained.
“But she wouldn't have authorized a transfer like this without telling me.””
Denise let out a bitter laugh.
“Your mother was trying to protect you. Just like Evelyn is always trying to protect Jasmine.””
Dad's head snapped toward her.
“Don't bring my mother into this unless you a bitter laugh.
“Your mother was trying to protect you. Just like Evelyn is always trying to protect Jasmine.””
Dad's head snapped toward her.
“Don't bring my mother into this unless you can explain what happened.””
“I didn't make the transfer.””
“Then why have you been hiding the ledger?””
“Because I knew you'd react exactly like this!””
She snatched the ledger and opened it to another page.
“Look at the date. Look at the amount. Tell can explain what happened.””
“I didn't make the transfer.””
“Then why have you been hiding the ledger?””
“Because I knew you'd react exactly like this!””
She snatched the ledger and opened it to another page.
“Look at the date. Look at the amount. Tell Jasmine why money was moved out of the company account three days before her mother died.””
Dad studied the entry.
“I don't know.””
For once, I believed him.
He looked genuinely confused.
Denise pointed at the initials again Jasmine why money was moved out of the company account three days before her mother died.””
Dad studied the entry.
“I don't know.””
For once, I believed him.
He looked genuinely confused.
Denise pointed at the initials again.
“Then perhaps you should ask your mother.””
Dad pulled out his phone and called Grandma.
She answered almost immediately.
“Marcus? Is Jasmine all right?””
“She's with me. I need to ask you about an old transaction from Carter Development Services.””
Grandma fell silent.
“What transaction?””
Dad read.
“Then perhaps you should ask your mother.””
Dad pulled out his phone and called Grandma.
She answered almost immediately.
“Marcus? Is Jasmine all right?””
“She's with me. I need to ask you about an old transaction from Carter Development Services.””
Grandma fell silent.
“What transaction?””
Dad read her the date, the amount, and the reference number.
I watched his expression change as he listened.
“Why would you authorize that?”” he asked.
Another pause.
Then Dad's face went pale.
“Mom, that was money from the company reserve.””
He listened again.
“But her the date, the amount, and the reference number.
I watched his expression change as he listened.
“Why would you authorize that?”” he asked.
Another pause.
Then Dad's face went pale.
“Mom, that was money from the company reserve.””
He listened again.
“But you never told me.””
His voice grew quieter.
“You never told me because you were protecting someone?””
Denise watched him closely.
Dad closed his eyes.
“Who?””
you never told me.””
His voice grew quieter.
“You never told me because you were protecting someone?””
Denise watched him closely.
Dad closed his eyes.
“Who?””
Whatever Grandma said next made him grip the phone harder.
Then he whispered, “My wife?””
Denise stood.
“Marcus, give me that phone.””
He turned awayWhatever Grandma said next made him grip the phone harder.
Then he whispered, “My wife?””
Denise stood.
“Marcus, give me that phone.””
He turned away.
“No.””
“Give it to me!””
“Stay where you are!””
The command silenced her.
Dad listened for several more seconds before ending the call.
I moved.
“No.””
“Give it to me!””
“Stay where you are!””
The command silenced her.
Dad listened for several more seconds before ending the call.
I moved closer.
“What did Grandma say?””
He looked at me, struggling to find the words.
“She said the transfer was legitimate. She authorized it because your mother asked her to.””
“Why would Mom need money from Dad's company?””
Dad glanced closer.
“What did Grandma say?””
He looked at me, struggling to find the words.
“She said the transfer was legitimate. She authorized it because your mother asked her to.””
“Why would Mom need money from Dad's company?””
Dad glanced at the ledger.
“Your mother had discovered that one of our suppliers was overcharging us. She believed someone inside the company was diverting payments. The reserve was moved into a protected account while the accountant investigated.””
“Did they find the person?””
Dad shook his head.
“The at the ledger.
“Your mother had discovered that one of our suppliers was overcharging us. She believed someone inside the company was diverting payments. The reserve was moved into a protected account while the accountant investigated.””
“Did they find the person?””
Dad shook his head.
“The investigation stopped when your mother died. I thought the discrepancy had been resolved through an insurance claim and an accounting adjustment.””
Denise gave a short, mocking laugh.
“How convenient.””
Dad ignored her.
“Mom said your mother was worried someone would try to access investigation stopped when your mother died. I thought the discrepancy had been resolved through an insurance claim and an accounting adjustment.””
Denise gave a short, mocking laugh.
“How convenient.””
Dad ignored her.
“Mom said your mother was worried someone would try to access the money. She wanted the funds kept separate until the investigation was finished.””
“Who was the account for?”” I asked.
Dad looked at the ledger again.
“Your mother didn't tell me.””
I thought the money. She wanted the funds kept separate until the investigation was finished.””
“Who was the account for?”” I asked.
Dad looked at the ledger again.
“Your mother didn't tell me.””
I thought of the trust Daniel had described. The money my grandmother had set aside. The account Denise had accessed. The payments to a company Dad believed was long of the trust Daniel had described.
The money my grandmother had set aside. The account Denise had accessed. The payments to a company Dad believed was long gone.
Could they all be connected?
“Dad, could the transfer have been part of my education fund?””
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
Denise shook her head.
“You see? Nobody knows anything. Yet somehow I'm the villain.””
gone.
Could they all be connected?
“Dad, could the transfer have been part of my education fund?””
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
Denise shook her head.
“You see? Nobody knows anything. Yet somehow I'm the villain.””
Dad turned toward her.
“You admitted to taking money from Jasmine's account. You admitted to using her information. You admitted to creating a company with aDad turned toward her.
“You admitted to taking money from Jasmine's account. You admitted to using her information. You admitted to creating a company with a name designed to benefit from my reputation. Those things are not erased by an old transaction you didn't make.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“You still haven't explained why your mother's records were hidden.””
“I'm trying to find out.””
“Then ask her what happened after your wife's death.””
Dad stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
Denise's lips name designed to benefit from my reputation. Those things are not erased by an old transaction you didn't make.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“You still haven't explained why your mother's records were hidden.””
“I'm trying to find out.””
“Then ask her what happened after your wife's death.””
Dad stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
Denise's lips pressed together.
For a moment, she seemed to regret speaking.
Then she said, “Ask your mother who collected the remaining company records. Ask her why the accountant resigned. Ask her why the police never investigated the missing money pressed together.
For a moment, she seemed to regret speaking.
Then she said, “Ask your mother who collected the remaining company records. Ask her why the accountant resigned. Ask her why the police never investigated the missing money.””
Dad stepped toward her.
“You said you found the ledger while sorting the files.””
“I did.””
“Then you knew the original records were missing?””
Den.””
Dad stepped toward her.
“You said you found the ledger while sorting the files.””
“I did.””
“Then you knew the original records were missing?””
Denise said nothing.
Dad looked at the envelope in her hand.
“Have you been holding this ledger for three years?””
“I was keeping it safe.””
“Fromise said nothing.
Dad looked at the envelope in her hand.
“Have you been holding this ledger for three years?””
“I was keeping it safe.””
“From whom?””
“From anyone who might use it against me!””
Dad stared at her.
“You've been using this information to threaten me?””
“I never threatened you!””
“You just told me I should whom?””
“From anyone who might use it against me!””
Dad stared at her.
“You've been using this information to threaten me?””
“I never threatened you!””
“You just told me I should be afraid of what it might reveal.””
Denise turned toward me.
“Because he should be!””
I felt a chill move down my spine.
“Why?”” I asked.
She looked at me for a long moment.
Then she said something that made the room feel impossibly small.
“Because your mother didn't die knowing where be afraid of what it might reveal.””
Denise turned toward me.
“Because he should be!””
I felt a chill move down my spine.
“Why?”” I asked.
She looked at me for a long moment.
Then she said something that made the room feel impossibly small.
“Because your mother didn't die knowing where all her money had gone.””
Dad's expression hardened.
“Don't you dare use her death to distract us.””
“I'm not distracting anyone.””
“You're implying someone all her money had gone.””
Dad's expression hardened.
“Don't you dare use her death to distract us.””
“I'm not distracting anyone.””
“You're implying someone stole from her.””
“Someone did.””
“Who?””
Denise's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know.””
I almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
Every time we approached stole from her.””
“Someone did.””
“Who?””
Denise's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know.””
I almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
Every time we approached an answer, Denise revealed another secret and insisted she knew nothing about it.
Dad took the ledger from her.
“I'm keeping this document safe an answer, Denise revealed another secret and insisted she knew nothing about it.
Dad took the ledger from her.
“I'm keeping this document safe until Daniel and the accountant can examine it.””
She didn't fight him.
Instead, she sank onto the bed and stared at her hands.
“You think you're going to solve until Daniel and the accountant can examine it.””
She didn't fight him.
Instead, she sank onto the bed and stared at her hands.
“You think you're going to solve everything with paperwork,” she murmured.
“You think you can separate the good people from the bad people with a few bank statements.””
Dad placed the ledger inside the envelope.
“ everything with paperwork,” she murmured.
“You think you can separate the good people from the bad people with a few bank statements.””
Dad placed the ledger inside the envelope.
“Paperwork is how we're going to establish what happened.””
“And if it proves you're not the hero you think you are?””
He stopped.
Denise looked up.
“Will you still stand beside Jasmine when she learns what you signed?””
Dad's face went rigid.
Paperwork is how we're going to establish what happened.””
“And if it proves you're not the hero you think you are?””
He stopped.
Denise looked up.
“Will you still stand beside Jasmine when she learns what you signed?””
Dad's face went rigid.
“What did I sign?””
She shook her head.
“Ask your mother.””
Then she stood, walked past us, and descended the staircase.
I followed Dad into“What did I sign?””
She shook her head.
“Ask your mother.””
Then she stood, walked past us, and descended the staircase.
I followed Dad into the hallway.
He remained still for several seconds before looking at me.
“Jasmine, I need you to know something. I never knowingly authorized anyone to use your money. If there's a mistake in those records the hallway.
He remained still for several seconds before looking at me.
“Jasmine, I need you to know something. I never knowingly authorized anyone to use your money. If there's a mistake in those records, we'll find it.””
“I believe you.””
He nodded, but the relief I expected never came.
Because Dad wasn't simply afraid that Denise had stolen from us.
He was afraid that he had missed something important while my mother was alive.
Something that might explain why Denise had become so desperate to hide the, we'll find it.””
“I believe you.””
He nodded, but the relief I expected never came.
Because Dad wasn't simply afraid that Denise had stolen from us.
He was afraid that he had missed something important while my mother was alive.
Something that might explain why Denise had become so desperate to hide the truth.
His phone rang.
It was Daniel.
Dad answered.
“Have you found anything?””
Daniel's voice came through the speaker.
“Yes. I reviewed the preliminary account records, and there's a truth.
His phone rang.
It was Daniel.
Dad answered.
“Have you found anything?””
Daniel's voice came through the speaker.
“Yes. I reviewed the preliminary account records, and there's a serious problem. The secondary account wasn't just receiving transfers from the trust. It was also connected to an outstanding business loan.””
Dad glanced at me.
“What kind of loan?””
“A loan secured by a personal guarantee. The signature appears to be yours.””
Dad gripped the phone.
“I serious problem. The secondary account wasn't just receiving transfers from the trust. It was also connected to an outstanding business loan.””
Dad glanced at me.
“What kind of loan?””
“A loan secured by a personal guarantee. The signature appears to be yours.””
Dad gripped the phone.
“I never guaranteed a loan for Denise's company.””
“Then we'll need to examine the original agreement.””
Dad's voice dropped.
“Daniel, is Jasmine's name on that guarantee?””
A never guaranteed a loan for Denise's company.””
“Then we'll need to examine the original agreement.””
Dad's voice dropped.
“Daniel, is Jasmine's name on that guarantee?””
A pause followed.
“Yes.””
My stomach dropped.
Daniel continued.
“There's another issue. The lender has initiated a claim against the assets associated with the guarantee. If the identity information was used without authorization, that needs to be addressed immediately.””
Dad stared at the staircase where Denise had disappeared.
pause followed.
“Yes.””
My stomach dropped.
Daniel continued.
“There's another issue. The lender has initiated a claim against the assets associated with the guarantee. If the identity information was used without authorization, that needs to be addressed immediately.””
Dad stared at the staircase where Denise had disappeared.
Then he looked at me.
“She didn't just take your money,” he said quietly.
“She may have used our names to secure debts neither of us agreed to.””
My phoneThen he looked at me.
“She didn't just take your money,” he said quietly.
“She may have used our names to secure debts neither of us agreed to.””
My phone vibrated.
Another message from the unknown number.
*Ask Marcus what happened to the original insurance settlement. He has been looking in the wrong place for three years.*
I showed Dad.
He read it once.
Then again.
And the expression on vibrated.
Another message from the unknown number.
*Ask Marcus what happened to the original insurance settlement. He has been looking in the wrong place for three years.*
I showed Dad.
He read it once.
May you like
Then again.
And the expression on his face told me that, whatever happened to my mother's money, he was no longer certain he knew the whole story.
