Chapter 6: The Account That Wasn’t There
Marcus read the anonymous email three times.
David took the phone.
“Don't respond.””
Marcus was already opening his banking app.
David reached across the table.
“Marcus.””
“If Peter has access to my business accounts—”
“Then you call the bank. You do not start clicking links or responding to anonymous messages.””
“There’s no link.””
“That doesn't make it trustworthy.””
Marcus nodded.
He called the emergency number for his business bank.
After several security questions, he reached the fraud department.
“My accountant may have compromised access to company funds.””
The representative began reviewing recent activity.
Marcus paced through the living room.
Jasmine sat beside her suitcase.
The Hamilton email remained open on her phone.
Tomorrow morning.
She should have been thinking about the interview.
Instead, she was listening to her father discuss possible financial fraud.
Finally, the bank representative said something that made Marcus stop walking.
“When?””
He grabbed a pen.
“Today?””
David stood.
“How much?””
Marcus raised one finger, asking him to wait.
“Stop all pending transfers. Yes. Every one that can still be stopped.””
Jasmine’s stomach tightened.
Marcus listened.
Then he slowly sat down.
“Thank you.””
He ended the call.
David asked, “What happened?””
“Three transfer attempts.””
“How much?””
Marcus looked at him.
“Four hundred eighty thousand dollars.””
Olivia gasped.
Jasmine stared at her father.
“Did they take it?””
“Two were flagged.””
“And the third?””
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
“Processed yesterday.””
“How much?””
“Eighty-five thousand.””
David swore under his breath.
Marcus continued.
“The destination account belongs to an LLC.””
“What LLC?””
“Cumberland Property Holdings.””
David opened his laptop.
“I'll search it.””
Marcus looked at Jasmine.
“Whoever sent that email knew.””
“Maybe Peter sent it,” she said.
“Why warn me about himself?””
“To blame Monica?””
David looked up.
“Or Monica sent it to blame Peter.””
Olivia whispered, “Or somebody else knows.””
That possibility hung over them.
David found the LLC registration.
“Cumberland Property Holdings was formed seven months ago.””
“Owner?””
“Registered through an agent.””
“Can we find the beneficial owner?””
“Not from this public record.””
Marcus rubbed his temples.
His entire life seemed to be splitting open.
His marriage.
His home.
His business.
And through all of it, one thought kept returning.
Jasmine’s interview.
He looked at his daughter.
“What time tomorrow?””
“Ten.””
“Good.””
She stared at him.
“Dad, your company just lost eighty-five thousand dollars.””
“And?””
“I can't sit through a scholarship interview pretending everything is normal.””
“Yes, you can.””
“How?””
Marcus moved closer.
“Because that is exactly what whoever deleted that email didn't want you to do.””
Jasmine went quiet.
“Your future does not stop because adults around you made terrible choices.””
Olivia flinched.
Marcus noticed.
“So tomorrow morning, you do the interview.””
“What about all this?””
“I handle it.””
Jasmine looked toward the suitcase.
“I'm not sure I can concentrate.””
Marcus knelt in front of her.
“Then we start by unpacking that.””
Jasmine followed his gaze.
The suitcase.
For hours, it had remained in the middle of the room like evidence.
Marcus stood.
“Come on.””
He lifted it.
Olivia moved toward the stairs.
Marcus stopped her gently.
“Olivia.””
She froze.
“Jasmine gets her room back.””
Olivia nodded immediately.
“I know.””
“Your things come out tonight.””
“Okay.””
There was no argument.
No smirk.
Olivia walked upstairs.
Jasmine followed.
Her bedroom door was still locked.
Olivia pulled the key from her pocket.
For several seconds she held it.
Then she placed it in Jasmine’s hand.
“I’m sorry.””
Jasmine stared at her.
Those words were not enough.
Not remotely.
But they were the first Olivia had ever offered.
Jasmine unlocked the door.
Her room looked wrong.
Olivia’s clothes hung in the closet.
Her makeup covered Jasmine’s desk.
Several framed photographs had been placed face down.
Jasmine picked one up.
It showed her with her mother.
Olivia saw it.
“I didn't break that.””
Jasmine looked at her.
“Should I thank you?””
Olivia lowered her eyes.
“No.””
They began moving Olivia’s things out.
Marcus unpacked Jasmine’s suitcase.
He folded every piece of clothing himself.
It took nearly an hour.
Nobody said much.
When they finished, Jasmine stood in the doorway.
Her room looked like hers again.
Not completely.
But enough.
Marcus handed her the key.
“This room is yours.””
Jasmine closed her fingers around it.
“Dad?””
“Yes?””
“What happens to Monica?””
Marcus took a long breath.
“I don't know yet.””
“Are you staying married?””
He hadn't expected the question.
Neither had Olivia, who stood in the hallway.
Marcus looked between both girls.
“Tonight is not the night I make permanent decisions.””
Jasmine nodded.
“But Monica isn't coming back here tonight.””
Olivia’s face fell.
Marcus softened.
“You can call her.””
“I tried.””
“She didn't answer?””
Olivia shook her head.
Marcus looked troubled.
Despite everything, Monica was still Olivia’s mother.
“Keep trying.””
Jasmine entered her bedroom.
Marcus started to leave.
“Dad?””
He turned.
“I need to show you something else.””
Marcus’s shoulders tensed.
“Please tell me it's not another deed.””
Despite herself, Jasmine smiled slightly.
“No.””
She opened her desk drawer.
Inside was an old photograph.
Her mother stood beside Marcus in the backyard.
Behind them was the maple tree.
Jasmine pointed toward a small wooden shed visible near the edge of the picture.
“Do you remember that?””
“The old garden shed?””
“Yeah.””
“What about it?””
“Monica went inside it last week.””
Marcus frowned.
“Nobody uses that shed.””
“I know.””
“How do you know she went there?””
“I saw her from my window.””
“What was she doing?””
“She carried a box inside.””
“What kind of box?””
“A document box.””
Marcus’s expression changed.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Jasmine gave him a look.
He immediately regretted the question.
“Right.””
She didn't need to explain.
He hadn't listened before.
“I’m sorry.””
They went downstairs.
David was still working.
Marcus told him about the shed.
David immediately said, “Don't touch anything.””
Marcus stared at him.
“It’s my shed.””
“And potentially evidence.””
“Can we at least look?””
David considered it.
“Photograph everything before moving anything.””
They went outside.
The Nashville night was cool.
Marcus carried a flashlight.
Jasmine followed with David.
Olivia remained inside.
The shed stood behind the maple tree.
Marcus tried the door.
Locked.
“That’s new.””
He had never locked it.
David photographed the padlock.
Marcus retrieved bolt cutters from the garage.
One snap.
The lock fell.
He opened the door.
Dust floated through the flashlight beam.
Old gardening tools lined the walls.
Empty paint cans.
A broken lawn chair.
Then Jasmine pointed.
“There.””
A white banker’s box sat beneath a tarp.
Marcus photographed it.
Then removed the lid.
Inside were folders.
Bank statements.
Property records.
Photocopies of Marcus’s passport and driver’s license.
Tax returns.
Copies of Jasmine’s birth certificate.
Copies of Renee’s death certificate.
Marcus looked sick.
“Why would Monica need these?””
David pulled out another folder.
“Marcus.””
Inside were documents for Cumberland Property Holdings.
Marcus stared at the company name.
The same LLC that had received eighty-five thousand dollars.
David turned to the registration paperwork.
“There's a signature.””
Marcus looked.
Monica Carter.
But beneath her name was another.
Peter Lang.
Fifty percent ownership each.
Marcus let out a slow breath.
“There it is.””
David continued searching.
Then he found a ledger.
Dates.
Amounts.
Account numbers.
Some entries went back nearly a year.
Marcus looked at the totals.
“This is more than eighty-five thousand.””
“How much?””
Marcus added several figures mentally.
“At least two hundred thousand.””
David photographed every page.
Jasmine noticed another envelope at the bottom.
Her name was written on it.
She reached for it.
David stopped her.
“Photo first.””
He photographed the envelope.
Jasmine opened it.
Inside was a copy of her birth certificate.
A school withdrawal form.
And a printed application.
Marcus took it.
“What is this?””
Jasmine read the heading.
It was an enrollment application for a residential youth program in Kentucky.
Her stomach dropped.
“They were sending me here?””
Marcus scanned the page.
The program appeared legitimate, but the application contained claims that Jasmine had serious behavioral problems.
Aggression.
Defiance.
Repeated runaway threats.
None of it was true.
Then Marcus saw the requested admission date.
Tomorrow.
Jasmine whispered, “So there was never an aunt.””
Marcus looked devastated.
“No.””
Monica had planned to place Jasmine in a residential program.
Far enough away that she couldn't interfere.
David found another sheet.
“There's a deposit receipt.””
“How much?””
“Eight thousand dollars.””
“Paid by?””
David looked at Marcus.
“Cumberland Property Holdings.””
The circle closed tighter.
Money taken from Marcus’s company had helped finance the plan to remove his daughter.
Jasmine stepped backward.
She suddenly felt unable to breathe.
Marcus immediately noticed.
“Hey.””
He put down the papers.
“Jasmine.””
“I need to go inside.””
“Okay.””
She turned.
Then headlights swept across the backyard.
A vehicle had pulled into the driveway.
Marcus looked toward the house.
“Stay here.””
He and David moved quickly around the side.
Jasmine followed several steps behind despite his instruction.
A car door slammed.
Olivia opened the front door from inside.
“Mom?””
Monica stood in the driveway.
But she wasn't alone.
Peter Lang climbed from the passenger side.
Marcus stopped.
Peter looked exhausted.
Monica looked furious.
“What are you doing in that shed?”” she demanded.
Marcus almost laughed.
“My shed?””
“You had no right to break that lock.””
David stepped forward.
“I suggest both of you choose your next words carefully.””
Peter looked at the open shed.
His face went pale.
“You found the box.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Thanks for confirming it's yours.””
Peter closed his eyes.
Monica glared at him.
“Idiot.””
Olivia stepped onto the porch.
“Mom!””
Monica turned.
“Go inside.””
“No.””
“Olivia.””
“You left me.””
Monica’s expression flickered.
“I needed to handle something.””
“You left without me.””
“I knew Marcus wouldn't throw you out.””
The sentence landed heavily.
Olivia looked toward Jasmine.
Monica had known Marcus would protect her daughter.
While Monica had been willing to remove his.
Olivia’s face crumpled.
“Did you use me?””
Monica stared at her.
“What?””
“Was the house ever for me?””
Monica didn't answer.
Olivia began crying.
“You kept saying you were doing everything for me.””
“I was.””
“Then why is your name on the company?””
Silence.
Monica looked at Peter.
Marcus stepped forward.
“That's an excellent question.””
Peter suddenly said, “Because the house was never the real target.””
Everyone turned toward him.
Monica’s face went white.
“Peter.””
He ignored her.
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
“What was?””
Peter laughed bitterly.
“You still don't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
Peter looked toward Jasmine.
Then toward the house.
“The house was collateral.””
Marcus stared at him.
“For what?””
Peter swallowed.
“Your company.””
Monica shouted, “SHUT UP!””
But Peter was finished protecting her.
“She needed control of the property so she could secure a private loan.””
Marcus’s face hardened.
“How large?””
Peter hesitated.
“Two million.””
Jasmine felt her stomach drop.
Marcus stared at his wife.
“Why would you need two million dollars?””
Monica said nothing.
Peter answered for her.
“Because Cumberland Property Holdings owes money.””
“To who?””
Peter looked genuinely afraid now.
“A lot of people.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“How much?””
“More than the house is worth.””
David’s expression changed.
“Peter, what did you two invest in?””
Peter looked at Monica.
Then back at Marcus.
“We didn't invest it.””
“What did you do?””
Peter took a breath.
“We borrowed against assets.””
“Whose assets?””
Peter looked straight at Marcus.
“Yours.””
Marcus went completely still.
Peter continued.
“Your business. Your investment accounts. The house.””
Marcus’s voice became barely audible.
“How?””
Peter gave a hollow laugh.
“You trusted me.””
That sentence seemed to hit Marcus harder than anything else.
Jasmine watched her father’s face.
The betrayal wasn't just financial.
Peter had been his friend for eleven years.
Marcus turned toward Monica.
“And you?””
She remained silent.
Peter looked at her.
“Tell him.””
“Peter.””
“Tell him why you needed Jasmine gone before her birthday.””
Monica’s hands began trembling.
Marcus stepped in front of Jasmine again.
“Why?””
Monica stared at him.
Then at Jasmine.
Finally, she whispered:
“Because the loan closes Friday.””
David frowned.
“That still doesn't explain the birthday.””
Peter did.
“The lender discovered Renee’s trust.””
Marcus looked at him.
“And?””
“They required the beneficiary’s consent once she reached legal age.””
Jasmine’s birthday.
Six weeks away.
Marcus shook his head.
“But Friday is before she turns eighteen.””
“Yes.””
Peter looked toward the house.
“That was the window.””
Jasmine suddenly understood.
They weren't merely trying to steal her home.
They were racing against her eighteenth birthday.
Monica had needed Jasmine removed, discredited, and unaware before anyone could tell her what she owned.
Marcus looked at the suitcase visible through the open front door.
Then at his wife.
“What happens if that loan closes?””
Peter answered.
“If it defaults…”
He hesitated.
Marcus’s voice hardened.
“What happens?””
Peter looked directly at Jasmine.
“She could lose her mother’s half of the house too.””
Marcus took one slow step toward Monica.
For the first time all night, Monica had nowhere left to look.
No excuse.
No lie.
No daughter to hide behind.
Marcus pointed toward the home Renee had protected for Jasmine.
“You didn't just try to steal from me.””
His voice shook.
“You were willing to gamble the one thing her mother left her.””
Monica whispered, “I can explain.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
Behind him, Jasmine tightened her hand around her bedroom key.
Marcus looked at David.
“Stop the loan.””
David nodded.
“I'll start tonight.””
Then Marcus looked at Peter.
“And you’re going to tell us everything.””
Peter glanced at Monica.
She shook her head desperately.
He ignored her.
“There’s one more problem.””
Marcus’s expression darkened.
“What now?””
Peter reached into his coat slowly and removed a folded document.
He handed it to David.
David opened it.
His face changed.
“What is it?”” Marcus asked.
David looked at Jasmine.
Then Marcus.
“This is a court petition.””
“For what?””
David read the first page again as though hoping he had misunderstood it.
Then he looked at Monica.
“You filed to have Jasmine declared financially incompetent after she turns eighteen?””
Jasmine stopped breathing.
Marcus stared at his wife.
Monica said nothing.
David’s voice became cold.
“If this had worked, Jasmine wouldn't just have lost control of the house.””
He held up the petition.
“Someone else would have been appointed to control her trust.””
Marcus already knew the answer.
But he asked anyway.
“Who?””
David turned the page.
May you like
The proposed conservator’s name was printed clearly beneath Jasmine Carter’s.
Monica Carter.
