Chapter 6: The First Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars
Dad picked up the document from the floor.
He read the name again.
Then he looked at Chloe.
"Why is your name here?""
Chloe's face went blank.
"What?""
Dad turned the paper around.
"Chloe Melissa Carter. Beneficiary of a transfer dated March fourteenth, six years ago.""
I looked at the document.
The amount was listed clearly.
$35,000.
The transfer description read:
*EDUCATIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT ALLOCATION.*
Chloe began shaking her head.
"I don't know what that is.""
Melissa immediately stepped forward.
"That was a family arrangement.""
Dad's eyes narrowed.
"Using Naomi's trust?""
"It was a temporary loan.""
"Who approved it?""
Melissa crossed her arms.
"I did.""
"You weren't a trustee.""
"I was managing household affairs.""
"You had no authority to touch that account!""
Melissa's voice rose.
"Daniel, I was helping Chloe! She needed support!""
I stared at her.
"What did Chloe need thirty-five thousand dollars for?""
Melissa turned toward me.
"She was younger. She had opportunities. She needed things.""
"What things?""
"Private lessons. Activities. A better school environment.""
I looked at Chloe.
"You spent my mother's money on your activities?""
Chloe started crying.
"I didn't know it was yours!""
I couldn't understand how she could say that.
The document had my name at the top.
My mother's trust.
My inheritance.
My money.
Dad pulled out a chair.
"Where did the money go?""
Melissa shook her head.
"It's been years.""
"Where did it go?""
"I don't remember every expense.""
Eleanor opened another folder.
"I do.""
Melissa turned toward her.
"What?""
Eleanor placed several bank statements on the table.
"Your mother requested copies of the transactions shortly before she died. She noticed the unusual withdrawal and asked the trustee to investigate.""
Dad leaned closer.
"Why wasn't I told?""
"Because the trustee was still investigating when your wife became seriously ill. Your wife asked me not to upset you while she was undergoing treatment.""
I looked down.
My mother had been sick for months.
I remembered hospital rooms, quiet conversations, and Dad sleeping in a chair beside her bed.
I had no idea she was also fighting to protect my future.
Eleanor pointed to the statement.
"The thirty-five thousand was transferred into an account controlled by Melissa.""
Dad looked at his wife.
"You told me your savings paid for Chloe's school.""
Melissa's lips parted.
"I used some of my savings.""
"Then why was Naomi's money in the account?""
Melissa said nothing.
Dad took out his phone.
"I'm calling Mr. Bennett.""
Melissa rushed toward him.
"Don't you dare!""
He stepped back.
"Get away from me.""
She stopped.
Dad called the number printed on the trust agreement.
A man answered after several rings.
"Harold Bennett speaking.""
"Harold, this is Daniel Carter. We have a serious problem involving Naomi's trust.""
The older man's voice immediately became alert.
"What happened?""
Dad explained everything.
The attempted transfer.
The forged signature.
The $35,000 withdrawal.
The proposed change of trustee.
There was a long silence.
Then Harold said something that made Dad sit down.
"Daniel, I need you to listen carefully. The original trust agreement contains a restriction that may explain why these transactions were attempted.""
"What restriction?""
"No individual can receive more than five thousand dollars from the trust without Naomi's written consent and independent trustee approval.""
Dad looked at the documents.
"Then how did thirty-five thousand dollars leave the account?""
"That's precisely what I need to investigate.""
Eleanor leaned toward the phone.
"Harold, do you still have the original transaction authorization?""
"Yes.""
"Who signed it?""
Another pause.
"I'll need to check the file.""
Melissa was breathing heavily.
Dad noticed.
"Melissa, did you sign that document?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
Harold returned to the call.
"I've located it.""
Dad straightened.
"Whose signature?""
Harold hesitated.
"According to the document, the authorization was signed by your late wife.""
My chest tightened.
"Mom?""
Dad looked at me.
"That doesn't make sense.""
Harold continued.
"However, there are inconsistencies. The signature appears to have been reproduced from an earlier document.""
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"I knew it.""
Dad asked, "Can you send us a copy?""
"I'll arrange that. But Daniel, there's something else you should know.""
"What?""
"The trust was not supposed to have any direct connection to the household accounts. Someone would have needed access to your wife's personal financial records to create the authorization.""
Dad looked at Melissa.
She stared at the floor.
Harold continued.
"Also, the transaction was not processed through the original trustee.""
"Then who processed it?""
"A temporary administrator was appointed during your wife's final months.""
Dad frowned.
"Who?""
Harold read the name.
"Martin Hale.""
The room went completely silent.
Dad ended the call.
For several seconds, he simply stared at his phone.
Then he turned toward Melissa.
"You knew Martin before my wife died.""
Melissa didn't answer.
"How long?""
She folded her arms.
"I met him through a financial adviser.""
"Before or after Naomi's mother became ill?""
Melissa's eyes filled.
"Daniel, this is getting out of control.""
"Before or after?""
She finally whispered, "Before.""
Dad stood.
"How long before?""
"About eight months.""
I felt sick.
My mother had been fighting an illness.
Dad had been spending every possible moment at the hospital.
And during that time, Melissa had been meeting the man who later tried to transfer my inheritance.
Eleanor reached for my hand.
"Naomi, there's something else I think you should see.""
She opened her case and removed a small folded letter.
It was addressed to her.
The date was written at the top.
Three weeks before my mother died.
Eleanor unfolded it.
Her hands trembled as she read.
"Ellie,
I think I've finally figured out where the missing money went. I don't believe the withdrawals were random. Someone has been using my daughter's trust as a source of funds, and I suspect the person has help from someone inside Daniel's household.
Please don't confront anyone until you have the original records.
If anything happens to me, make sure Naomi knows that none of this was her fault.""
Eleanor stopped reading.
I stared at the page.
Dad looked devastated.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Eleanor wiped her eyes.
"Because your wife asked me to wait until I had proof.""
Melissa suddenly grabbed her handbag.
"I'm leaving.""
Dad moved toward the door.
"You're not taking anything from this house.""
"I am not staying here to be accused of crimes I didn't commit!""
Dad pointed toward the documents.
"Then cooperate with the investigation.""
Melissa turned toward Chloe.
"Get your coat.""
Chloe didn't move.
"Mom...""
"NOW!""
Chloe looked at Dad.
Then at me.
And finally, she whispered something that made everyone freeze.
"Mom, you told me the first thirty-five thousand was only the beginning.""
Dad slowly turned.
"What do you mean?""
Chloe began sobbing.
"Martin said there were other payments. He said the money had been coming out for years.""
Eleanor dropped the letter.
Dad stepped closer.
"How much money?""
Chloe covered her face.
"I don't know.""
"Chloe, how much?""
She looked up through her tears.
Then she said the words that changed everything.
"Mom said there was another account in Naomi's name. And that one had almost half a million dollars.""
I stared at Dad.
He stared at Eleanor.
May you like
And Melissa, standing beside the front door, whispered:
"Chloe, you promised you wouldn't tell him about that one.""
