Chapter 3: The Fraud Report
Nobody breathed.
The words seemed to hang in the living room.
*Fraud report.*
Tasha looked at me.
I looked at Marcus.
My stepfather's face had gone completely blank.
The bank representative knocked again.
“Mr. Johnson?””
Marcus whispered, “Nobody says anything.””
I stared at him.
“You're kidding.””
“Maya.””
“You just told us to keep quiet?””
“I'm trying to protect this family.””
Tasha stepped toward the door.
“You've been protecting everyone except me.””
Marcus grabbed her arm.
I shoved his hand away.
“Don't touch her.””
He glared at me.
For a second, neither of us moved.
Then Tasha opened the door.
A man in a navy suit stood on the porch holding a leather folder.
He introduced himself as Daniel Reed.
He showed us identification before stepping inside.
“I'm with the bank's fraud investigation department,” Daniel said.
My mother immediately said, “There has been a misunderstanding.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Mrs. Johnson?””
“Yes.””
“Are you the mother of Maya Johnson?””
“Yes.””
“And the stepmother of Tasha Johnson?””
Nia hesitated.
“Yes.””
Daniel opened his folder.
“I need both girls to confirm their identities.””
Tasha handed him her driver's license.
I gave him mine.
Daniel checked the information.
Then he looked at Marcus.
“Mr. Johnson, you are listed as trustee and authorized manager of the account.””
“Yes.””
“Good.””
Daniel pulled out several pages.
“Then you can explain these.””
He placed the documents on the coffee table.
There were dates.
Transaction numbers.
Signatures.
Account transfers.
I stared at them.
Tasha leaned over my shoulder.
“What am I looking at?””
Daniel pointed.
“These are withdrawals from the trust established by your mother.””
Tasha nodded.
“I know.””
“There are fourteen transactions.””
Her face went pale.
“Fourteen?””
“Yes.””
“How much?””
Daniel looked at the total.
“$96,340.17.””
The room tilted.
I grabbed the edge of the table.
Tasha whispered, “That's almost all of it.””
Daniel nodded.
“Your original trust balance was just over one hundred twelve thousand dollars.””
I looked at Marcus.
“You spent ninety-six thousand dollars?””
He didn't answer.
My mother stepped forward.
“Some of that money was for household expenses.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That isn't how the trust was structured.””
“What does that mean?”” I asked.
Daniel looked at me.
“The trust could be used for Tasha's education, medical expenses, housing related to her education, and several other approved purposes.””
He paused.
“Not luxury purchases for another family member.””
My mother's face reddened.
“The vehicle was necessary.””
“For whom?”” Daniel asked.
Nobody answered.
Daniel continued.
“There are also several transfers to businesses.””
Tasha frowned.
“What businesses?””
Daniel handed her another sheet.
She read the names.
Her eyebrows pulled together.
“I've never heard of these.””
I looked at Marcus.
“Dad?””
Tasha's voice cracked.
“You called yourself Dad when you took my money.””
Marcus finally spoke.
“I was trying to build something for the family.””
“What?””
“A business.””
“What business?””
He looked away.
Daniel answered for him.
“A consulting company.””
Tasha looked confused.
“Why would my trust pay for a consulting company?””
“It wasn't supposed to,” Daniel said.
My mother suddenly interrupted.
“Daniel, this is a family issue. Surely you don't need to involve the girls.””
Daniel closed his folder.
“I absolutely do.””
He looked at Tasha.
“You are the beneficiary.””
Then he looked at me.
“And Maya is listed on one of the disputed transactions.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
Tasha turned toward me.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel pulled out another document.
“This withdrawal is for $49,800.””
The car.
“We received the dealership payment information this morning.””
I stared at him.
“The Highlander.””
“Yes.””
“But I didn't ask for it.””
“I understand.””
“And I didn't know where the money came from.””
Daniel nodded.
“I believe you.””
Marcus suddenly stepped forward.
“That's enough.””
Daniel didn't move.
“Mr. Johnson, I need you to understand that this investigation is no longer informal.””
Marcus's voice lowered.
“You don't know what you're talking about.””
“I know exactly what I'm talking about.””
Daniel placed a final document on the table.
“This authorization was submitted electronically three days ago.””
Tasha leaned closer.
Her eyes widened.
“That signature…”
I looked down.
It was hers.
Or at least, it looked like hers.
But the date was impossible.
Tasha pointed at it.
“I was at work that day.””
Daniel nodded.
“We know.””
“How?””
“Your employer provided your time records.””
Tasha looked stunned.
Daniel continued.
“You were clocked in from 2:07 p.m. until 10:18 p.m.””
He tapped the document.
“The withdrawal authorization was submitted at 4:31 p.m.””
Tasha whispered, “So someone forged my signature.””
Daniel's expression became serious.
“That is what the evidence currently suggests.””
My mother sat down hard on the couch.
Marcus didn't move.
I watched him.
He wasn't looking at Tasha.
He wasn't looking at Daniel.
He was looking at the floor.
And then I noticed something.
His hands were shaking.
I had spent years thinking Marcus was impossible to scare.
But now I knew better.
Daniel gathered the papers.
“I need both of you to come to the bank tomorrow morning.””
Marcus immediately said, “No.””
Daniel looked at him.
“I wasn't asking you.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You're not taking them anywhere without me.””
Daniel's expression didn't change.
“They are adults—or nearly adults—and this concerns their financial interests.””
I asked, “What happens tomorrow?””
Daniel looked at me.
“We go through every disputed transaction.””
“And then?””
He hesitated.
“If the evidence confirms unauthorized withdrawals, the bank will refer the matter to law enforcement.””
Tasha closed her eyes.
I felt a cold weight settle in my chest.
Law enforcement.
This wasn't a family argument anymore.
It was a crime.
Daniel walked toward the door.
Then he stopped.
“One more thing.””
Everyone looked at him.
He turned toward Tasha.
“There is a second beneficiary attached to your mother's trust.””
Tasha frowned.
“What?””
Daniel opened the folder again.
“Someone else was legally entitled to receive part of that money.””
Marcus's face suddenly changed.
Tasha looked at me.
“Who?””
Daniel glanced down at the document.
Then he said a name.
My name.
I stared at him.
“That can't be right.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Your mother didn't leave the trust to Tasha alone.””
He held up the document.
“She named both daughters.””
My mother stood abruptly.
“That document doesn't exist.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Oh, it exists.””
Then he added quietly:
“And that's why I think the person who forged Tasha's signature wasn't trying to steal only her money.””
The room went silent.
May you like
Daniel looked directly at me.
“They were trying to make it look like *you* stole it.””
