Chapter 9: The Truth About the Money
I called my mother at 11:52 p.m.
She answered sleepily.
“Marcus? What's wrong?””
I stared at the photograph on my screen.
“Mom, where were you six years ago on March seventeenth?””
Silence.
“Why?””
“Just answer me.””
She sighed.
“I don't remember.””
“Were you at First National Bank?””
The silence that followed told me everything.
“Marcus…”
“Were you?””
“Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why?””
“I can explain.””
“Then explain.””
She began crying.
“Not over the phone.””
I stood up.
“I'm coming over.””
“No, sweetheart. Please. Not tonight.””
“Mom, I have a photograph of you outside the bank. Your name is connected to withdrawals from Danielle's trust.””
She made a small sound.
Then she whispered:
“I never wanted you to find out this way.””
My chest tightened.
“Find out what?””
She started crying harder.
“I was trying to save you.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Save me from what?””
There was a long pause.
Then she said:
“From your father.””
The following morning, Vanessa accompanied me to my parents' house.
My father was already sitting at the kitchen table.
My mother stood near the window.
Nobody greeted us.
I placed the photograph on the table.
“Let's stop pretending.””
My father looked at it.
Then he closed his eyes.
My mother sat down.
“Marcus, before you get angry, you need to understand why we did it.””
I stared at her.
“You took money from Danielle's children's trust.””
She shook her head.
“Not for ourselves.””
“Then where did it go?””
My father finally spoke.
“I borrowed it.””
I turned toward him.
“What?””
He rubbed his face.
“Six years ago, my business was collapsing. I had debts. I was about to lose the company.””
“So you stole from your grandchildren?””
“I intended to replace every dollar.””
“How much?””
“One hundred and twenty thousand.””
Vanessa stood.
“You took one hundred and twenty thousand dollars from children who had already lost their mother?””
My father looked down.
“I know how it sounds.””
“No,” I said quietly.
“I don't think you do.””
My mother began explaining.
“Your father told me it would only be for a few months. He promised to replace the money before Danielle discovered it.””
I looked at her.
“But she did discover it.””
My mother nodded.
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Two weeks before she died.””
I gripped the edge of the table.
“What happened?””
My father finally looked up.
“Danielle confronted me.””
“And?””
“I admitted what I'd done.””
“Did she tell me?””
“She wanted to.””
“Why didn't she?””
My mother began crying.
“Because your father begged her not to destroy the family.””
I stared at both of them.
“So she knew.””
“Yes,” my father whispered.
“And she died believing her children's future was in danger.””
My mother covered her mouth.
I turned away.
I needed air.
I walked toward the back door.
Vanessa followed me.
“Marcus.””
I stopped.
She placed a hand on my shoulder.
“I'm sorry.””
I shook my head.
“I trusted everybody.””
“Not everybody.””
I looked at her.
“Danielle tried to protect us.””
Vanessa nodded.
“And she still is.””
I returned to the kitchen.
“Did you repay the money?””
My father nodded.
“Most of it.””
“How much is missing?””
He looked at my mother.
She answered.
“Twenty-eight thousand dollars.””
I stared at them.
“Where is the rest?””
My father hesitated.
Then he said:
“Tasha.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“What?””
“She knew about the withdrawals. Danielle confronted her too.””
My mother wiped her cheeks.
“Tasha offered to help us recover the money through her business contacts.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course she did.””
My father continued.
“She told us she could arrange a private transfer. But she asked for a fee.””
“How much?””
“Twenty-eight thousand.””
I stood.
“You gave her the missing money?””
“No. She took it from the account before we could stop her.””
Vanessa looked furious.
“So your family lost one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, and Tasha walked away with twenty-eight thousand?””
My father nodded.
I stared at him.
“Why didn't you report her?””
“Because we thought we'd get the money back.””
“And because you didn't want me to know?””
My father lowered his head.
“Yes.””
I looked at my mother.
“Did you know Tasha was treating Imani this way?””
“No,” she whispered.
“Did you know she was hiding Danielle's jewelry?””
“No.””
“Then why did you keep protecting her?””
My mother began sobbing.
“Because she told us that if we exposed what happened, you'd lose everything. She said she'd tell you your father had stolen from Danielle.””
I stared at her.
“She wasn't threatening to reveal a secret. She was threatening to reveal the truth.””
My father began crying.
For the first time in my life, I didn't know whether I wanted to comfort him or walk away.
At noon, Daniel Foster called.
“Mr. Reed, I've reviewed the additional evidence.””
“What did you find?””
“The trust withdrawals were not authorized by Danielle. However, there are records suggesting that someone created duplicate documents using your father's business details.””
“Can we prove who did it?””
“We're working with the bank and forensic investigators.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“There's one more thing. Tasha claims she was named as an emergency guardian.””
“Yes. We found that document.””
“Was it legitimate?””
He paused.
“That's what makes this complicated.””
I sat down.
“Explain.””
“Danielle initially named Tasha as a temporary emergency contact. But she later revoked that authorization.””
I stared at the phone.
“When?””
“Six weeks before her death.””
“Why?””
“Because of concerns about Tasha's financial behavior and her relationship with the children.””
I closed my eyes.
“So Tasha knew she'd been removed?””
“Yes. She signed a notification acknowledging the change.””
I looked toward Vanessa.
She shook her head in disbelief.
Daniel continued.
“However, there is another document we need to discuss.””
“What now?””
“Danielle created a private video statement.””
I sat up.
“A video?””
“Yes. It was recorded at the solicitor's office shortly before her death.””
“What's in it?””
“We haven't reviewed the complete recording yet. It is scheduled to be presented to the family tomorrow.””
“Can I see it today?””
“I'm afraid the file requires verification before release.””
I sighed.
“Fine.””
Then he added:
“Mr. Reed, I should warn you that Danielle specifically requested that the video only be shown when both you and Vanessa were present.””
I looked at my sister.
“Why?””
“I don't know,” he answered.
“But she left a separate instruction for the end of the recording.””
“What instruction?””
He paused.
“She requested that the video not be stopped, regardless of what anyone says.””
That evening, I returned home.
Tasha was sitting at the dining table.
A large suitcase stood beside her.
“Are you leaving?””
She looked up.
“I'm staying somewhere else for a few days.””
“Where?””
“That's none of your business.””
I put my keys down.
“We need to talk about the trust.””
She laughed without humor.
“Of course we do.””
“Did you take twenty-eight thousand dollars?””
Her expression changed.
“Who told you that?””
“Did you?””
She looked away.
“I borrowed it.””
“From my children's trust?””
“I was going to return it.””
“When?””
“When my business improved.””
I stared at her.
“You keep saying that.””
She stood.
“You have no idea what it was like. Everyone expected me to be the perfect wife, the perfect stepmother, the perfect woman.””
“You could have told me you were struggling.””
“And you would have helped?””
“Yes!””
She laughed.
“You barely had time for yourself, Marcus. I knew you wouldn't understand.””
I looked at her.
“So you took money from children.””
“I made a mistake!””
“You made several.””
She picked up her handbag.
Then she looked at me.
“Do you know what Danielle's biggest mistake was?””
I said nothing.
“She thought she could control everything from beyond the grave.””
I stepped closer.
“Don't speak about her like that.””
Tasha's expression hardened.
“She left documents, letters, instructions, and money. She never trusted anybody.””
“She trusted me.””
“Did she?””
I stared at her.
Tasha smiled bitterly.
“Marcus, there's a reason she recorded that video.””
“What reason?””
She hesitated.
Then she said:
“Because she knew what your father had done. But she also knew what you had done.””
I felt my blood turn cold.
“What are you talking about?””
Tasha picked up her suitcase.
“You'll understand tomorrow.””
She walked toward the door.
I didn't stop her.
But just before leaving, she turned around.
“There's something you should know about the night Danielle died.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
Tasha's eyes filled with tears.
“She called me.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“What?””
“She called me from the hospital.””
“When?””
“About an hour before she died.””
I stepped forward.
“What did she say?””
Tasha looked down.
“She told me she had finally found out who was responsible for the missing money.””
I swallowed.
“Who?””
Tasha's voice became barely audible.
“She said it wasn't your father.””
I stared at her.
“Then who was it?””
Tasha looked directly into my eyes.
“She said the person who had been moving the money was someone she trusted more than anyone.””
I couldn't move.
Then she whispered:
“Marcus, Danielle was talking about you.””
She opened the door.
And left.
The next morning, Vanessa and I sat inside Daniel Foster's office.
A large screen stood at the end of the conference room.
The solicitor placed a small remote on the table.
“Are you both ready?””
I nodded.
Vanessa reached for my hand.
The screen came to life.
Danielle appeared.
She was sitting in a chair, wearing her favorite blue cardigan.
Her hair was tied back.
She looked tired, but she smiled when the recording began.
“Hello, my darling Marcus.””
I stopped breathing.
“Hello, Vanessa.””
My sister began crying.
Danielle took a breath.
“If you're watching this, then something has happened that I could not prevent.””
She looked directly into the camera.
“Marcus, I need you to listen carefully. The missing money is only part of the story.””
I leaned forward.
Danielle continued.
“I found out who was responsible. I also discovered why they did it.””
She paused.
Then she said:
“And there's something I never told you about the day I went to the hospital.””
The video suddenly froze.
Daniel frowned and reached for the keyboard.
“What happened?”” I asked.
“The file is still loading.””
The screen went black.
Then a new message appeared.
<badge color="danger">FILE RECOVERY REQUIRED</badge>
Daniel stared at it.
“That's strange.””
He tried again.
Nothing.
Then his assistant entered the room holding a phone.
“Mr. Foster, someone has just contacted reception.””
“Who?””
The assistant looked toward us.
“A woman named Tasha Reed.””
My stomach dropped.
The assistant continued.
“She says she has the original recording and wants to speak to Marcus.””
I stood.
“Where is she?””
The assistant swallowed.
“She says she'll only hand it over if you agree to one condition.””
“What condition?””
May you like
The assistant looked at me.
“She wants the children to come with you.””
